In the lead-up to Sunday's Christmas Bird Count at Presqu'ile Provincial
Park and the surrounding area, birders are acutely conscious of the
possibility that whatever they have seen this week may still be present
on the day of the count. This is likely a reasonable assumption, with
the exception of waterfowl, whose numbers have dropped sharply with two
successive days on which Presqu'ile Bay froze over for a few hours.
A count of 304 swans yesterday (289 Mute Swans and 15 Tundra Swans) was
the highest this fall but may yet increase as other bodies of water
nearby freeze over. There have been up to100 or more Redheads in
Presqu'ile Bay for the past week, but only four could be found in the
patches of open water today. White-winged Scoters can usually be found
at Salt Point when there is open water there, and off the lighthouse at
other times.
An immature (second-year?) Bald Eagle was soaring over the lighthouse on
December 10 and it (or another one) was perched in the picnic area this
morning. Two Northern Harriers were spotted heading west across
Presqu'ile Bay on cold days with northerly winds, a male on December 7
and a female on December 10. A Sharp-shinned Hawk was engaged in its
own "project feeder-watch" opposite 121 Bayshore Road on December 5. A
Cooper's Hawk was near the government dock on December 10. In Newcastle
woods on December 6 an immature Northern Goshawk perched briefly before
flying off. Ruffed Grouse are known to be resident in the Park, but are
not often seen, one exception being a bird at the corner of Paxton Drive
and Atkins Lane on December 5. The most recent sighting of Purple
Sandpipers on Gull Island was on December 5, when four were seen. A
flock of gulls resting on the ice of Presqu'ile Bay on December 9
contained at least one Iceland Gull, plus another, very dark
"white-winged" gull, either an Iceland Gull or a Thayer's Gull. Members
of the Presqu'ile walking club doing their thing on December 5 were
treated to a Snowy Owl on a picnic table and a Great Horned Owl along
Paxton Drive. Two Snowy Owls were in Presqu'ile Bay on December 10, one
of which had successfully caught a duck.
Like the grouse mentioned above, the resident Pileated Woodpeckers can
be elusive, but one was seen on each of December 5 and 11. Single
Northern Shrikes were seen on December 8 at 186 Bayshore Road and on
December 11 at 83 Bayshore Road and over the paved trail behind that
address. A Brown Creeper was at the former location on December 6, and
a Winter Wren was discovered in Jobes' woods on December 5. As usual,
American Robins are again wintering in the Park in good numbers. The
highlight of the week was a Yellow-rumped Warbler accompanying the
Black-capped Chickadees opposite the entrance to Lilac Lane on December
6. A flock of Snow Buntings flew over the government dock on December
10. The feeders at 83 and 85 Bayshore Road are hosting two
White-throated Sparrows and three Common Grackles, as well as up to five
House Sparrows, which are unusual at Presqu'ile. About 40 Pine Siskins
flew over the lighthouse on December 5.
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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