As this report is being written, winter has returned with a vengeance to
Presqu'ile Provincial Park. Through the past week, however, there have
been tantalizing hints that the next season is about to arrive.
There was an unconfirmed report of a Snow Goose on February 23. With
Presqu'ile Bay being more than half ice-covered, there have been fewer
Canada Geese there than in previous weeks. Several dozen were grazing
on Gull Island on March 1. Mute Swans remain as numerous as ever,
mostly concentrated on the north side of Presqu'ile Bay, where there is
open water. As yet the only dabbling ducks at Presqu'ile are American
Black Ducks and Mallards. Probably by the time the Waterfowl Viewing
Festival begins on March 10, there will be a few others, perhaps
Gadwalls or Northern Pintails. The hundreds of Greater Scaup that were
in the Park through most of the winter have been augmented by new
arrivals and now number in the thousands, among which are a few
Canvasbacks and Redheads. Single White-winged Scoters have been seen
several times between Salt Point and the lighthouse, the same area where
a male Barrow's Goldeneye has become a fixture. It was erroneously
stated in last week's report that it had last been seen on January 21,
but that should have been February 21. Every day in the past week it
has been feeding in front of 186 Bayshore Road, retreating to the
lighthouse only when ice cover drives it there temporarily. A few
Red-breasted Mergansers are also in that area on most days.
Two Ruffed Grouse were feeding in the top of a very tall deciduous tree
along Paxton Drive. Ring-billed Gulls have returned to Gull Island by
the thousands and some are beginning to stake out their territories.
The Northern Shrike that has appeared irregularly all winter at the calf
pasture was seen there on February 24. A few more American Crows have
arrived than were present all winter, and one American Robin near the
lighthouse on the morning of March 1 was also thought to be a new
arrival. Three Brown-headed Cowbirds continue to visit the feeder at 85
Bayshore Road. A lone Snow Bunting was on Gull Island on March 1.
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 channels separating Gull Island
from Owen Point are frozen over, but the coming weekend will be the last
until September for accessing the island, partly because the ice will
soon disappear and partly because of the access restrictions that apply
in spring and summer.
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.
