At least for part of the past week, conditions at Presqu'ile Provincial
Park have been March-like, in terms of both weather and bird life. The
open water of Presqu'ile Bay extends as far as the calf pasture, which
is unusual this early in the season.
When most of the swans have their heads tucked under their wings, as is
often the case in cold or windy weather, it is difficult to determine
which species are present among the 300 or so, but six TRUMPETER SWANS
were detected on one day. CANVASBACKS and REDHEADS are both fairly easy
to spot from the government dock. For the past three and a half weeks,
WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS have been seen every day. A surprising sighting of
a male BLACK SCOTER near the lighthouse on January 25 was one of only a
few winter records in the Park. After an apparent absence of five days,
the male BARROW'S GOLDENEYE in that same area re-appeared on January 26
and has been present constantly since then, seeming to favour surfing
the big waves at the entrance to Presqu'ile Bay.
A NORTHERN GOSHAWK paid a brief visit to the feeders at 186 Bayshore
Road on January 22. RING-NECKED PHEASANT, RUFFED GROUSE, and WILD
TURKEY have all been seen this week, the first near the Park entrance
(not seen here alive for a long time) and the last at the Paxton Drive
/Atkins Lane junction. Gulls have put on a good showing this week,
including ICELAND and LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS. Owls, too, have been
noteworthy. A pale GREAT HORNED OWL was seen on January 24, a SNOWY OWL
has been on the ice of Presqu'ile Bay, and BARRED OWLS continue to be
ubiquitous.
There has been little change among passerines this week. A
WHITE-THROATED SPARROW was at 85 Bayshore Road today. I am not aware of
any sightings since January 21 of the ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK that has
been present all winter. The RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD frequenting the
Bayshore Road/Langton Avenue area was seen at least twice in the past week.
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. The narrow channel between Owen
Point and Gull Island is normally ice-covered at this time of year, but
the ice, while appearing to be thick, might not support the weight of a
human. However, the water beneath the crust is only ankle-deep. The
surrounding shoreline can be very slippery. 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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