Contrary to what was posted earlier this week by a birder with
apparently unrealistic expectations, the participants in the second
weekend of the Waterfowl Festival at Presqu'ile Provincial Park were
treated to the normal high numbers and a good variety of ducks under
exceptionally favourable viewing conditions. Since then, even more
species have returned to complement the eighteen species of waterfowl
that were present on the weekend. Many other avian "signs of spring"
are also evident in the Park.
A Pied-billed Grebe was at the calf pasture on March 21 and 22. Very
soon there will be other grebes and loons in the waters around the
Park. Great Blue Herons have been seen on four of the last six days,
including one near the nests on High Bluff Island.
For the first time since it was deemed a species distinct from Canada
Geese, a Cackling Goose was identified among some of its larger cousins
on Gull Island on March 22, thus adding a new species to the cumulative
list of birds found in the Park. The first V's of migrating Canada
Geese have begun passing through Presqu'ile; such flocks should be
scrutinized for any Snow Geese that might be accompanying them. Three
species of swans were at Presqu'ile during the past week: the ubiquitous
and unwanted Mute Swans (in large numbers), a Trumpeter Swan that
normally resides in nearby Weller's Bay (not the same bird as the one
seen in the same location six days earlier, as determined by the
identifying numbers on their respective wing tags), and six Tundra Swans
that rested briefly on the ice of Presqu'ile Bay on March 19 before
moving on.
In addition to the thousands of ducks that have been present at
Presqu'ile for much of this month, there were several other species that
were not around until recently: Wood Ducks (up to nine on March 22 at
the calf pasture), three Northern Shovelers in the same location on
March 21 and 22 (six days earlier than the earliest date reported in
/Birds of Presqu'ile Provincial Park/), Northern Pintails at Owen Point
(up to twelve) and on the ice of Presqu'ile Bay, Green-winged Teal
(three along the shore of Gull Island and two in Presqu'ile Bay on
March 22 and 24, respectively), Lesser Scaup, and American Coot. The
flock of White-winged Scoters beside the Salt Point lighthouse now
numbers six birds. A male duck near Owen Point on March 23 was
determined to be a hybrid between Common Goldeneye and Barrow's Goldeneye.
A Northern Goshawk flew past one of the Bayshore Road cottages on March 18.
Two species of "shorebirds" were found at Presqu'ile this week: a
Killdeer flying past Owen Point and five performing American Woodcocks
between the Park entrance and the Park store.
An Iceland Gull was on Gull Island on March 23, and a Glaucous Gull was
on the ice of Presqu'ile Bay on three of the last six days.
Sunday was owl day at Presqu'ile. The Snowy Owl that had not been seen
for a week was rediscovered on the ice of Presqu'ile Bay, where many of
the participants in the Waterfowl Festival were able to see it through a
spotting scope. It was still there on every subsequent day except
Monday, when it or another was sitting on the beach near the beginning
of the Owen Point trail. One of the resident Barred Owls also
cooperated by sitting close to the road which Festival visitors were
driving. A number of people also saw a Great Gray Owl just outside the
Park gate, where one has been a "regular" for much of the winter.
The wintering Northern Flicker on Bayshore Road was seen eating cracked
corn near a feeder. One observer found three Pileated Woodpeckers
within an hour on March 24.
Especially on sunny days, the Tufted Titmouse can often be heard singing
until mid-morning, anywhere from the lighthouse to a kilometre away
along Paxton Drive. A singing Brown Creeper along Lighthouse Lane and a
singing Winter Wren in Jobes' Woods (where there were two other Brown
Creepers) were probably birds that had quietly wintered here, rather
than newly arrived migrants.
The first Brown-headed Cowbird of the year arrived at a feeder on
Bayshore Road on March 18, followed on the next day by several Common
Grackles. A Common Redpoll continues to pay intermittent but daily
visits to a feeder at 186 Bayshore Road. Another surprise visitor to
that feeder, for only one day, was a male House Sparrow, a species that
is rare at Presqu'ile. One wonders whether, unlike others of its kind,
it may have migrated in from across the lake.
To reach Presqu'ile Provincial Park, follow the signs from Brighton.
Locations within the Park are shown on a map at the back of a tabloid
that is available at the Park gate. Access to the offshore islands is
restricted at this time of year to prevent disturbance to the colonial
nesting birds there.
Questions and comments about bird sightings at Presqu'ile may be
directed to: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
--
Fred Helleiner
186 Bayshore Road,
R.R. #4,
Brighton, Ontario, Canada, K0K 1H0
VOICE: (613) 475 5309
If visiting, access via Presqu'ile Provincial Park.
