Most of the attention has shifted in the past week to a part of
Presqu'ile Provincial Park which normally gets little attention from
birders. In "the fingers" at least two interesting species of birds
were located, which attracted birders from far and wide.
Both Red-throated Loons and Common Loons have been present this week,
both at the lighthouse and in Popham Bay. The latest Double-crested
Cormorant sightings were of two singles on November 15, and a Great Blue
Heron was flying towards High Bluff Island on November 12. A Brant was
at Owen Point on November 14. All three species of swans occurred at
Presqu'ile this week, with a tagged Trumpeter Swan on the causeway
leading into the Park and six Tundra Swans (including one juvenile) at
the calf pasture on November 13, the same day as a Wood Duck in the
marsh. A good variety of other ducks can usually be found in the marsh
and offshore, including hundreds of White-winged Scoters (especially at
the lighthouse) and two Hooded Mergansers.
An Osprey, the first November record for Presqu'ile, it seems, has been
seen along Bayshore Road, most recently on November 14. An immature
Bald Eagle first seen on November 14 sat for a long time in a tree on
High Bluff Island on November 15. Merlins were found in four different
parts of the Park, most regularly at the calf pasture. A Peregrine
Falcon was seen at the beach on November 12.
On November 12, five species of shorebirds were found between Owen Point
and Sebastopol Island. A Black-bellied Plover, a Greater Yellowlegs,
and, remarkably, a Spotted Sandpiper were all fairly late, especially
the latter, which ought to have gone by early October. The prize which
birders eagerly await every November is the Purple Sandpiper, of which
small numbers appeared on Sebastopol Island on November 9, 12, and 15.
Three of them were closer to Owen Point on November 16. Gull numbers
have dwindled considerably, but soon the Arctic species (Glaucous Gull
and Iceland Gull) can be expected to arrive.
In "the fingers", both Great Horned Owl and Barred Owl (two birds)
responded to imitations of the latter, delivered by birders hoping to
attract a rare woodpecker. A Belted Kingfisher flew past the lighthouse
on November 13, and on November 10 there was an unconfirmed report of a
Red-headed Woodpecker there. Two rare woodpeckers, a female American
Three-toed Woodpecker and a female Black-backed Woodpecker were found in
"the fingers". The former has not been re-located since its discovery
on November 12, but the other one has periodically rewarded some of the
persistent birders who are prepared to search a very large area of
suitable habitat. A Northern Shrike was at the calf pasture and a
Winter Wren in "the fingers". On Gull Peninsula a lone American Pipit
on November 12 was the only straggler from the larger flocks of previous
weeks. Yellow-rumped Warblers and Common Grackles were still lingering
in the lighthouse area and elsewhere. A few finches have been sighted,
including a Purple Finch at the lighthouse and a flock of crossbills
flying over "the fingers" and identified later as White-winged
Crossbills by their call notes. American Goldfinches have suddenly
become plentiful.
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, Owen Point, Gull Peninsula, High Bluff Island, and part of
the calf pasture are not available for bird-watching on those days.
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.
