For the first part of the fall migration season, most birders visiting
Presqu'ile Provincial Park concentrate on the bird life at the beach and
the adjacent islands and waters. That is where much of the shorebird
activity has been. Although there is still much of interest in those
parts of the Park, the rest of the peninsula has had enough bird life to
occupy one for a full day's birding.
Two birders on Gull "Island" had the good fortune to spy a Snow Goose
flying past among some Canada Geese on September 27. Other waterfowl
have become wary since the opening of the duck hunting season, but there
still is a decent variety in Popham Bay and elsewhere. The numbers of
Redheads and Greater Scaup were beginning to build up there until last
weekend. No one has yet reported any Ring-necked Ducks in the Park this
fall, but they should be appearing soon in the marsh. Several dozen
White-winged Scoters are scattered along the south shore of the Park,
but far out in Lake Ontario, where only a good spotting scope reveals
them. Also far out, as well as in Popham Bay, are as many as 50 Horned
Grebes. A Red-necked Grebe was off the lighthouse on September 23.
The woodpile marsh has had one or two Green Herons consistently this
week. A Black-crowned Night-Heron was at the causeway just outside the
Park on September 23. From the south side of Presqu'ile Bay it was
possible to identify three Turkey Vultures feeding on the beach at Bald
Head on the north side of the bay. The most recent Osprey sighting was
on September 22. Two Cooper's Hawks were seen on September 22 and one
on September 26. A Northern Goshawk was near Salt Point on September
25. On High Bluff Island on September 27 a Merlin sat for a few minutes
right beside a Peregrine Falcon, while another of the latter watched
nearby. Merlins have been daily sightings in five different locations
in the Park. A Ruffed Grouse was at the lighthouse on two consecutive days.
The mix of shorebirds has been changing almost daily, but the vast
majority are Sanderlings and Black-bellied Plovers. While a high count
of 17 American Golden-Plovers was reached on September 25, only one was
seen on the following day and none on the day after. Greater Yellowlegs
were seen on two different days, including one at the calf pasture.
Three Spotted Sandpipers were present on September 22, and a rather late
one was at Chatterton Point on September 27. Whimbrels have been
reliable on Gull "Island", with at least eight on several days. There
have also been small numbers of Ruddy Turnstones, Least Sandpipers,
Baird's Sandpipers, and Dunlins. Both Wilson's Snipe and American
Woodcock were found on September 25, the former at Owen Point and the
latter at a campsite in High Bluff campground. There was still at least
one Caspian Tern off Owen Point on September 27, and a surprising Common
Tern was on the beach on September 25.
A Great Horned Owl was heard twice during the week. Twenty-one years
ago tomorrow, a new bird for Canada was discovered at Presqu'ile, a
Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher. While it may be expecting too much to hope
for a repetition of that event, others of that family do show a tendency
to wander eastward from western or south-western origins at this time of
year and observers should be alert to the possibilities. A Warbling
Vireo sighted on September 22 tied the record late date for that species
reported in /Birds of Presqu'ile Provincial Park/. Up to five Horned
Larks have been present on Gull "Island" all week. The Carolina Wren at
the lighthouse has now completed its first full month there. Various
thrushes at Presqu'ile this week have included Gray-cheeked Thrushes,
Swainson's Thrushes, and the first Hermit Thrush of the season (on
September 25). The total of sixteen species of warblers in the Park in
the past week is more than one might expect this late in the season.
They include Orange-crowned Warblers on two different dates, fairly late
Chestnut-sided and Blackburnian Warblers (September 22 and 21
respectively), a Pine Warbler, and an Ovenbird. Scarlet Tanagers were
still present on September 21 and 22. Sparrows are ubiquitous in the
Park and include at least one Lincoln's Sparrow. A Lapland Longspur was
accompanying the many American Pipits on Gull "Island" for four
consecutive days and may still be there. No one has yet reported Rusty
Blackbirds in the park this fall. A Pine Siskin was at 191 Bayshore
Road this afternoon.
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 "Island", High Bluff Island, and part of the calf
pasture are not available for bird-watching on those days. Again this
year, birders and others will be permitted at Owen Point on hunting days
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.
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