Birding at Presqu'ile Provincial Park comes to almost a complete halt in
July, at least as far as visiting birders are concerned, and even local
birders are much less active. The latter are tempted to take for
granted the exceptional variety of birds that are in the Park all
summer, some 60 species of which were identified in the past week with
almost no effort.
A good place to look for Common Loons that are summering here is in the
vicinity of the calf pasture cove. Pied-billed Grebes have fledged
their young, and it is easy to spot as many as 20 of that species in a
day. Among the birds not often seen elsewhere in eastern Ontario that
are taken for granted here are Great Egrets, which are almost a daily
sighting. The first American Black Duck in several weeks was at Gull
Island on July 11. A Red-breasted Merganser was there on the preceding
day. Three Least Sandpipers were at Owen Point on July 7, but a
continuation of the shorebird migration for which Presqu'ile is noted
will have to await the next cold front. A Bonaparte's Gull was at Owen
Point on July 13.
A Rock Pigeon flying over the calf pasture was an unusual sighting in
the Park. Pileated Woodpeckers are year-round residents of Presqu'ile,
but they have been difficult to find since the spring, when they were
much more vocal. One was calling after the rain ended on July 12.
Eastern Kingbirds are now plentiful, probably a sign that they are
beginning to drift southward. Purple Martin numbers have been augmented
by the young that were raised in martin houses at 38 and 192 Bayshore
Road. The most reliable place to find Indigo Buntings is just west of
the junction of Paxton Drive and Atkins Lane.
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.
