For birders at Presqu'ile Provincial Park, as elsewhere, this is an
exciting time of year, with new arrivals appearing every day, and lots
of bird song, some of which is enjoyed even by those who no longer have
the full range of frequencies in their hearing.
For the first time in weeks, waterfowl are no longer the centre of
attention, with only a few dozen ducks remaining. There still has been
no sighting of a Ruddy Duck in the Park this year. Interest has shifted
to the loon/grebe family. Red-throated Loons are now regular in Popham
Bay, and single Common Loons have been seen there since March 27 and in
Presqu'ile Bay as well. Pied-billed Grebes have become very vocal in
the marsh, cooing loudly to each other. Double-crested Cormorants are
around in good numbers, though not yet in the thousands that are
expected soon. The first two Great Egrets appeared in the marsh on April 2.
The first Turkey Vulture of the season flew over the Park on March 30.
An Osprey flew over on the record early date of March 28. Both
Sharp-shinned Hawk and Cooper's Hawk were visiting feeders on Bayshore
Road in the past week. A Merlin was at the calf pasture on April 1.
The first drumming Ruffed Grouse was heard on March 31. A Wild Turkey
was seen on April 1.
A Yellow-bellied Sapsucker appeared on April 2 and an Eastern Phoebe on
April 1. Two different adult shrikes were seen on March 27. The one at
the calf pasture, which was still there on the next day, was definitely
a Northern Shrike, but the other, near the Owen Point trail could not be
definitely identified as to species since the two are almost
indistinguishable. If it was a Loggerhead Shrike, as one observer
speculated, it would be the first at Presqu'ile in many years. The
first of several Tree Swallows around the lighthouse in recent days was
noted on March 30. Both Brown Creepers and Winter Wrens have been
singing in Jobes' Woods. An Eastern Bluebird was near the lighthouse on
March 27. A Fox Sparrow was at 85 Bayshore Road on March 31. Other
sparrows may soon be joining the Dark-eyed Juncoes that have begun
lining the roadways.
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,
Brighton, Ontario, Canada, K0K 1H0
VOICE: (613) 475 5309
If visiting, access via Presqu'ile Provincial Park.
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ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial
birding organization.
Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list [email protected]
For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
