I birded Presqui'le P.P. today from about 9am to 2pm. I spent most of the day along the beach, walking from Beach 1 to 3 and then on to Owen Point and back again. Large numbers of ring-bills and herring gulls, with about ten or more BONAPARTE'S GULLS in the mix. A large colony of CASPIAN TERNS was visible from Lookout #5 at Owen Point. There were three juvenile and two adult SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS near Lookout #2 and Beach 2. The highlight of the day, though, were a single RUDDY TURNSTONE and a juvenile RED KNOT feeding together on Beach 2 - both lifers for me. The birds allowed great views and a fairly close approach. I wasn't able to locate the BAIRD'S SANDPIPER that had been reported earlier last week, though I thought the red knot was the Baird's before noticing the yellow-green legs. See below for a few photos from the day's adventures.
Juvenile Red Knot - http://pj-mcblake.smugmug.com/gallery/5038229_j8QK5#358251945_R7zG2 Ruddy Turnstone - http://pj-mcblake.smugmug.com/gallery/5038229_j8QK5#P-3-15 Red Knot & Ruddy Turnstone forage together - http://pj-mcblake.smugmug.com/gallery/5038229_j8QK5#358251871_T9Jrd Semipalmated Plover - http://pj-mcblake.smugmug.com/gallery/5038229_j8QK5#358251978_rncKA Juvenile Semipalmated Plovers - http://pj-mcblake.smugmug.com/gallery/5038229_j8QK5#358251998_pNaGb Good birding! Pat DIRECTIONS (courtesy NeilyWorld) - Presqu'ile Provincial Park is just over 3 hours southwest of Ottawa and 106 km west of Kingston, Ontario. Take Highway 417 from Ottawa west to Highway 416 (exit 132). Follow 416 SSE 80 km to Highway 401. Turn right onto 401 and go 212 km to exit 509 at Highway 30. Exit south on Highway 30 and proceed 5 km to Brighton. To reach Presqu'ile Provincial Park from Brighton, follow signs to the Park. _________________________________________________________________ If you like crossword puzzles, then you'll love Flexicon, a game which combines four overlapping crossword puzzles into one! http://g.msn.ca/ca55/208_______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list [email protected] For instructions to join or leave ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdssetup.php ONTBIRDS Guidelines may be viewed at http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdsguide.php
