At this time of year there is very little change in the bird life from
week to week. At Presqu'ile Provincial Park, this implies that there
has been a good variety of sightings during the past week, corresponding
to the variety of habitats found in the Park. The only departure from
the static conditions in mid-July consists of the re-appearance of
southbound shorebirds and the presence of broods of young birds of many
species.
Common Loons are present offshore in small numbers, including one right
outside the window behind my computer at this moment. The lone
Red-necked Grebe that has been present in Popham Bay intermittently
since mid-June was still present this morning. Great Egrets often stop
to feed along the south end of the beach towards Owen Point. Most
sightings of Black-crowned Night-Herons have been of birds flying over
en route to and from the offshore islands.
The usual mix of ducks in Popham Bay off Gull Island (Gadwalls,
Redheads, scaup [Greater Scaup?] among others) was augmented on July 6
by a flock of ten American Wigeons. A Red-breasted Merganser was there
on July 3 and a Common Merganser on July 6.
The marsh behind Owen Point has a few square metres of duckweed, on
which two each of young Virginia Rails and Soras were feeding in plain
view. At Owen Point some algae is building up, on which seven Least
Sandpipers and a
White-rumped Sandpiper were feeding on July 6 and nine of the former on
July 7. Soon there will likely be dozens of shorebirds there,
representing several species.
Earlier in the week, a Marsh Wren was singing right beside the main Park
Road near the bird sightings board. An Eastern Towhee was found near 38
Bayshore Road on July 4. An adult male Orchard Oriole has been seen and
heard on at least two recent occasions in the calf pasture, where an
immature male and a female have been present for some time.
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]
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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.
