Until the past week, the interest in migratory birds at Presqu'ile
Provincial Park has focused on new arrivals, most of which have by now
put in their first appearance of the fall. Now attention is shifting to
those birds which should have departed by now but are still being found
in small numbers, likely lingering because of the unseasonably warm weather.
Small flocks of TUNDRA SWANS have been seen on four of the last six
days. The marsh opposite the bird sightings board is the best place to
find dabbling ducks these days, including AMERICAN WIGEONS and NORTHERN
PINTAILS, a second male of the latter having joined the one that has
been there through most of this month. On November 8, a surprising ten
CANVASBACKS were with the large and growing flock of GREATER SCAUP and
REDHEADS that sits far out in Popham Bay just out of range of the
land-based duck hunters. The most recent DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT
sighting was at Salt Point on November 9. A late GREAT BLUE HERON was
there on November 7.
A group of three NORTHERN HARRIERS migrated overhead on November 11.
On November 7, a MERLIN flew over Popham Bay. About 40 AMERICAN COOTS
were in the outer part of the marsh on November 7. Shorebirds have
dwindled from 28 individuals on November 8 to one KILLDEER on each of
the past two days, the first of that species in several weeks. Among
the birds on November 28 was a PURPLE SANDPIPER that appeared to some
observers to have some DUNLIN genes. The bird was seen again on
November 10, but not anywhere on Gull Island on November 12.
BONAPARTE'S GULLS have put in a good showing in recent days, but none of
the expected LITTLE GULLS could be detected among them. The first
ICELAND GULL of the season was at Beach 1 on November 7. A SNOWY OWL
was on Gull Island on November 10 and 11, but not on November 12. Again
this week, BARRED OWLS are being seen every day, and not in just the
usual Jobes' Woods location but from one end of the peninsula (near the
lighthouse) to the other (Lakeside campground). On one day (November
10) there were five sightings, of which not more than two were likely of
the same bird, judging from the locations of the sightings. Such
numbers are unprecedented at Presqu'ile and may indicate that they had a
successful breeding season in the Park.
PILEATED WOODPECKERS have been seen in three widely separated parts of
the Park this past week. A NORTHERN SHRIKE and a CAROLINA WREN were
both at 186 Bayshore Road on November 6. The appearance of BOHEMIAN
WAXWINGS in other parts of eastern Ontario recently suggests that
birders visiting Presqu'ile might also be lucky enough to find that
species. A late YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER was at 186 Bayshore Road on
November 7. The feeders at 83 Bayshore Road hosted late individuals of
EASTERN TOWHEE (November 7), SONG SPARROW (November 9), and
WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW (November 7 and 8). LAPLAND LONGSPURS flew
overhead calling on two different dates. Five PINE SISKINS paid a brief
visit to the feeders at 186 Bayshore Road on November 11.
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 not using a
boat should be prepared to wade through shin-deep water in which there
is often a swift current and a substrate that is somewhat uneven and
slippery. 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 until December 20. Birders are
encouraged to record their observations on the bird sightings board
provided near the campground office by The Friends of Presqu'ile Park
and to fill out a rare bird report for species not listed there.
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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.
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For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
