Not only the weather, but also the ice conditions, are "the talk of the
town" at Presqu'ile Provincial Park. There is open water in almost all
of Presqu'ile Bay, all of Popham Bay, and even small patches of the
marsh, and Gull Island is no longer accessible without wading. The
effect on bird life is that the large numbers of waterfowl are now
largely dispersed throughout Presqu'ile Bay, and many of the birds are
out of range for identification purposes.
Tundra Swans may have moved out of the bay, as none has been reported
since January 29. The first Gadwall of the season, apparently a record
early date, appeared on January 31. There has been a male American
Wigeon in Presqu'ile Bay on four of the past seven days. Canvasbacks
and Redheads are still plentiful in Presqu'ile Bay, though in apparently
reduced numbers. A Lesser Scaup was identified on January 30. Two
White-winged Scoters, the first since early December, appeared east of
the Salt Point lighthouse on January 31 and were still there today. The
most recent sighting of the two female Hooded Mergansers that had been
present for some time was on January 27.
The most plentiful gulls among the thousands in Presqu'ile Bay and on
Gull and Sebastopol Islands are Herring Gulls and Ring-billed Gulls, but
single Iceland Gulls have been spotted on three of the past seven days
and a Glaucous Gull on January 27.
A Snowy Owl on Gull Island on February 1, clearly visible from Owen
Point, was not the same bird that was present from late November to
early January, its plumage being much whiter. A Barred Owl was sunning
itself near Lighthouse Lane on January 28.
Feeder operators on Bayshore Road are lamenting the scarcity of
patrons. Even some of the customers that were "regulars" in January are
now out of sight somewhere, probably awaiting a return to more difficult
feeding conditions associated with the next snowfall. Not associated
with feeders were a flock of 14 Cedar Waxwings on Bayshore Road and a
flock of Snow Buntings on Gull Island.
This week Presqu'ile Provincial Park welcomed to its staff a well known
birder, David Bree, who will undoubtedly have many interesting sightings
to report. 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. The channel separating Gull
Island from Owen Point is probably less than a metre deep but
treacherous to wade across because of the swift currents.
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.
