There has not been as much migratory bird activity at Presqu'ile
Provincial Park in the past week as expected. Shorebird numbers, in
particular, are down from previous years despite an abundance of
apparently suitable habitat. Songbird migration has continued, but only
sporadically in the past few days. Unfortunately, some of the more
interesting reports recorded on the bird sightings board are lacking in
any details of the sightings.
The two young members of the family of Common Loons that was raised in
Presqu'ile Bay this summer are now almost fully grown. Pied-billed
Grebes are scattered around the inner part of Presqu'ile Bay, where they
can be observed from Bayshore Road. Great Egrets and Black-crowned
Night-Herons have both been seen this week.
At least one Osprey has been regularly patrolling the area between the
calf pasture and the lighthouse, and has been seen consuming fish. Two
Red-shouldered Hawks on August 19 were a rare sighting at Presqu'ile. A
Merlin and a Peregrine Falcon have been making life miserable for
shorebirds around the beach and Gull Island.
Shorebird viewing may not have been as productive as hoped in the past
week at Presqu'ile, but some birders consider it more rewarding to see
those birds in their natural habitat than in the smelly muck of a sewage
lagoon. Moreover, the variety that has been present recently is
"nothing to sneeze at" (to continue the olfactory metaphor). Among
others, there have been as many as five Black-bellied Plovers. Both
Greater Yellowlegs and Lesser Yellowlegs have been present in the past
week. A report of a Whimbrel was indicated on the bird sightings
board. Two Ruddy Turnstones appeared on August 23. There have been
growing numbers of the confusing little shorebirds known as "peeps", not
only along the natural beach near Owen Point and on Gull Island but also
at Chatterton Point, Salt Point, and the lighthouse, especially where
beds of algae have begun to appear. Among these was an interesting
report of a Western Sandpiper on August 20, on the same day as the first
appearance of a White-rumped Sandpiper, which remained at Owen Point
until at least the following morning. Four Baird's Sandpipers were on
the sandbar off Owen Point on August 17 and at Chatterton Point on
August 22, and individuals of that species were seen at Owen Point
between those dates. Two Pectoral Sandpipers were seen on August 18, and
eight Short-billed Dowitchers did a fly-past on August 20. The presence
of a Little Gull on August 20 and 21 was noted on the bird sightings
board without any details, but that species can be expected to accompany
the growing number of Bonaparte's Gulls in the weeks to come.
Chimney Swifts have been migrating past the lighthouse on three days
this week. A surprising report of a Red-headed Woodpecker appeared on
the bird sightings board, but most of the other woodpeckers known to be
around Presqu'ile also exhibit varying amounts of red on the head.
There have been two reliable sightings of a Red-bellied Woodpecker in
the past week, one at 83 Bayshore Road and the other at Salt Point. The
migration of growing numbers of Blue Jays past the lighthouse is surely
indicative of the changing season. A flock of over 200 Purple Martins
at the calf pasture on August 22 was by far the largest flock ever seen
by that observer in over sixty years of birding in Ontario.
Red-breasted Nuthatches have been sighted daily this week at the
lighthouse and elsewhere. Blue-Gray Gnatcatchers have also been there.
A young Veery appeared at 83 Bayshore Road on August 21.
The warbler migration is not yet in full swing, but a few interesting
ones were spotted this week, including a Northern Parula at Owen Point
on the very early date of August 20. Two Yellow-rumped Warblers at the
calf pasture on August 18 would be considered early migrants if it could
be determined that they had not bred locally. Among the species
identified on August 21 at 83 Bayshore Road (where several bird baths
and plenty of shrubbery have provided an attraction during the recent
drought) were Cape May Warbler, Bay-breasted Warbler, Mourning Warbler,
and Canada Warbler. At least two Wilson's Warblers has been seen
repeatedly near the lighthouse and another half a kilometre away.
Yellow Warbler numbers have dwindled sharply.
Scarlet Tanagers have been seen on two days this week. An Eastern
Towhee was spotted on August 22. (Does that make it a Spotted Towhee?)
A reported Lincoln's Sparrow at 186 Bayshore Road was almost certainly
one of this year's young Song Sparrows that have been regularly at that
location. An Indigo Bunting was at the lighthouse on August 23. A very
late Orchard Oriole was seen on August 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. 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.
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