Most of the birds found at Presqu'ile Provincial Park in the past week
are those that would be expected at this time of year, including a few
that had just arrived back from somewhere to the north. There were also
a few sightings of birds that should have gone south before this.
Over 100 Common Loons and at least as many Horned Grebes were found off
the south shore of the peninsula on October 21, and large numbers
continue to be seen there. Two Red-necked Grebes were also there on
that date. A Brant was on Sebastopol Island on October 22. Good
numbers and variety of ducks keep birding interesting, especially with
the aid of a good spotting scope. Among others seen recently were a
Wood Duck, close to a dozen Ring-necked Ducks, thousands of Greater
Scaup, two female Black Scoters, the first Long-tailed Ducks of the
season, many Buffleheads, a few Common Goldeneyes, a Hooded Merganser,
and hundreds of Red-breasted Mergansers.
At least one Northern Goshawk was present on October 25, and a Merlin
was also seen on that day. An American Golden-Plover was on Gull
Peninsula on October 22 and 24. A noisy flock of 16 Greater Yellowlegs
descended on Owen Point on October 20. The latest sighting of a
White-rumped Sandpiper was on October 24. At this time of year, birders
get increasingly excited about the imminent return of Purple Sandpipers,
which drop in at Presqu'ile in the late fall every year. From the
comfort of an easy chair in his verandah, one observer was able to watch
a Parasitic Jaeger chasing gulls near the lighthouse on October 21,
which made his "happy hour" even happier. A Little Gull was seen in
Popham Bay on October 20.
A rather late Eastern Phoebe was seen in two different places on October
25. The first Northern Shrike of the season, and the only one so far,
was at Owen Point on October 20. A surprisingly late Red-eyed Vireo was
at the lighthouse on October 25. Several observers have commented on
the relative scarcity of Black-capped Chickadees in the Park recently.
In a flock of Ruby-crowned Kinglets in Trail's End Campground, there was
a Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher on October 24, the latest date for that species
at Presqu'ile by several weeks, according to /Birds of Presqu'ile
Provincial Park./ A Brown Thrasher was at Owen Point on October 21. A
female Black-throated Blue Warbler at the lighthouse on October 21 and
24 was also late. A Vesper Sparrow at the calf pasture on October 25
was the only one known to have stopped in the Park this year. A Fox
Sparrow was at the lighthouse on October 21 and 25. The first Snow
Buntings of the year showed up on Gull Peninsula on October 24, and now
there are several dozen in that area. Three Rusty Blackbirds were there
on October 20. A Purple Finch was at the lighthouse on October 21.
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. It should be noted that, because
duck hunting is given priority on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and
Saturdays, Gull Peninsula, High Bluff Island, and part of the calf
pasture are not available for bird-watching on those days. For the
first time in several years, however, birders and others will be
permitted at Owen Point on hunting days, at least for the first few
weeks of the hunting season.
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.
