The past week has offered some of the most pleasant birding conditions
at Presqu'ile Provincial Park that anyone could hope for. The weather
has been ideal, the viewing conditions perfect, insect pests largely
absent, and plenty of birds in all of the different habitats to be found
in the Park.
Unfortunately, some of the more interesting birds have a habit of
staying far off shore. Consequently, many of the uncommon loons and
grebes can be seen only with a spotting scope and only if viewing
conditions are free of heat distortion, waves, and other problems. On
good days this week, however, some startling numbers have been recorded:
as many as 21 Red-throated Loons, best seen from the beach, over 100
Red-necked Grebes, mostly off the south shore in the open lake, and over
60 Common Loons in the same area. Horned Grebes have also been present
this week, but not in the numbers often found in other years.
Great Egrets have returned to their nesting ground on High Bluff Island,
but most of the sightings have been of birds flying to and from the
mainland and occasionally feeding in the marsh. On Sebastopol Island,
Black-crowned Night-Herons, up to nine at a time, can be seen roosting
during the day.
With the exception of Long-tailed Ducks and Red-breasted Mergansers (the
two most common duck species at Presqu'ile this week), numbers of
waterfowl are drastically reduced from what they were at the beginning
of the month. Three Surf Scoters at the lighthouse on April 19 and a
few White-winged Scoters at various locations were of interest.
A late Rough-legged Hawk flew over on April 19, and on the following day
an American Kestrel was perched over Lilac Lane.
Virginia Rails have been more evident in the marsh this week than in
previous years. The first Common Moorhen of the season was spotted on
April 16. A Dunlin at Owen Point on April 17 and three there on April
21 represent the vanguard of huge shorebird flocks that will be here
next month.
Among the thousands of Bonaparte's Gulls in various locations, there
were at least two Little Gulls at Owen Point on April 21. An Iceland
Gull, rather late for that species, flew past the lighthouse on April 17.
A Red-bellied Woodpecker was heard briefly at the lighthouse parking lot
on April 16 but could not be located. Two Common Ravens were seen
flying over Popham Bay on April 21. Among the large number of swallows
now in the Park, there are a few Purple Martins and Bank Swallows, but
no Cliff Swallows as yet. A migration of Black-capped Chickadees,
thought by many to be non-migratory, has been evident throughout the
week, as small flocks have flown towards the lighthouse and Owen Point
before reversing direction. Ruby-crowned Kinglets are ubiquitous and
vocal, and are increasingly accompanied by Yellow-rumped Warblers. Pine
Warblers are also present in small numbers. A Palm Warbler at the calf
pasture on April 17, apparently a record early date by nine days, showed
all the markings of the eastern "Yellow" race. No other warbler species
have yet showed up, but undoubtedly there will be others before the end
of the month.
A good variety of sparrows and their allies has been found this week,
including Eastern Towhee, and Chipping, Field, Savannah, Fox, Swamp, and
White-throated Sparrows, the latter two in good numbers. An anonymous
report of a White-crowned Sparrow on April 20, had it been confirmed,
would represent a record early date by eight days, according to Birds of
Presqu'ile Provincial Park. A House Sparrow near the lighthouse on
April 18 was the third sighting of that species at Presqu'ile this year.
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.
