A birding trip to Presqu'ile Provincial Park at this time of year can
produce mixed results. The general impression would be one of winter
birding, with most of the birds being the same ones that will likely be
here for another few months. A bit of persistence (and luck), however,
would turn up some that do not normally stay past late November or even
earlier. A few such prizes were found in the Park this week.
Over 200 Mute Swans, a Trumpeter Swan, and a handful of Tundra Swans can
be found in Presqu'ile Bay on most days. There are also about 100
Redheads and a small group of Hooded Mergansers among the more common
ducks there, as well as a Common Loon and a Pied-billed Grebe. Most of
the above birds are best viewed from the government dock.
A Bald Eagle was at the calf pasture on two consecutive days. A
Sharp-shinned Hawk appeared briefly near the lighthouse. A Ruffed
Grouse was feeding on the edge of Bayshore Road. There is still a
dwindling flock of American Coots off Lilac Lane. Paradoxically, the
number of observed shorebirds, while limited to only two species, Purple
Sandpiper and Dunlin, has actually been rising for the past couple of
weeks, probably merely the result of chance encounters. The latest
tally, from Gull Island on November 25, showed five of the former (the
highest total this year) and ten of the latter. Apparently there are
three Snowy Owls in the Park, the one that has been regularly seen on
Sebastopol Island and two in Presqu'ile Bay that sometimes perch atop
one of the lighthouses in the bay or else on the ice itself. Two
birders encountered a Barred Owl roosting near Paxton Drive, some
distance to the east of Jobes' Woods, where they are normally found.
A Northern Shrike has become a fixture in the calf pasture area. Two
Horned Larks on Gull Island and a Winter Wren, a Ruby-crowned Kinglet,
and a Common Yellowthroat on High Bluff Island, all on November 23,
probably represent the tail end of the fall passerine migration. On the
other hand, a Pine Warbler that has been visiting the feeders at 186
Bayshore Road for the past nine days shows no signs of departing and is
raising hopes that it will grace the forthcoming Christmas Bird Count,
which is barely two weeks away. Sparrows and other /Emberizids /that
may be tempted to tough out the forthcoming winter, especially if
encouraged by well-stocked feeders, include several species observed
this week. On November 23, a Savannah Sparrow seen on Gull Island and
three White-crowned Sparrows on High Bluff Island may yet decide to move
on, but the Song Sparrow, the three White-throated Sparrows, the three
Red-winged Blackbirds, and the eight Common Grackles that have been
patronizing feeders at 85 Bayshore Road and neighbouring properties
appear to have settled in. Winter finches have been rather scarce this
week, six Pine Siskins on November 25 being the only ones noted, unless
one includes the Snow Buntings on the offshore islands and at Chatterton
Point. Prospects for the coming week are for more of the same, but it
is worth keeping a lookout for Bohemian Waxwings, which show up from
time to time at this time of year and which will find ample buckthorn
berries on which to gorge themselves.
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. Visitors to Gull Island should be
prepared to wade through shin-deep water in which there is often a swift
current and a substrate that is somewhat uneven. It should also be noted
that, because duck hunting is given priority on Mondays, Wednesdays,
Fridays, and Saturdays, Gull Island, High Bluff Island, Owen Point, 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,
Brighton, Ontario, Canada, K0K 1H0
VOICE: (613) 475 5309
If visiting, access via Presqu'ile Provincial Park.
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