In the middle of the current snowstorm at Presqu'ile Provincial Park, it
is difficult to imagine that a few years ago an AMERICAN WOODCOCK
arrived here before the end of February. Nevertheless, there is reason
to expect such early migrants to appear within the next few days, both
because of the historical record and because, while certainly not a
flood, there has been a trickle of returning birds all week, especially
last Saturday.
A single TRUMPETER SWAN on Saturday and four TUNDRA SWANS on Sunday were
the first of these since earlier this month. Dabbling ducks usually
come somewhat later than diving ducks, but a pair of MALLARDS sat on the
edge of the ice in Presqu'ile Bay, where NORTHERN PINTAILS often sit on
first arriving. Although these were the first in over a month, they
were likely wintering nearby, and, like many other birds, were
stimulated to engage in pre-vernal wandering. On the other hand, the
build-up of dozens of CANVASBACKS and REDHEADS and a single early
RING-NECKED DUCK off the government dock probably represent true
migration. A female EIDER was observed in a spotting scope for a few
minutes near the lighthouse on Saturday prior to flying off.
Unfortunately, the birder who saw it is insufficiently experienced with
the two very similar species of female eider to determine whether it was
a KING EIDER (the more likely of the two) or a COMMON EIDER, though it
seemed to match descriptions of the latter in bird books. Later that
morning, a female LESSER SCAUP and a female BLACK SCOTER were among the
GREATER SCAUP at the government dock. The male BARROW'S GOLDENEYE near
the lighthouse was still present yesterday, as it has been for most days
this month. A male HOODED MERGANSER off the government dock on Saturday
and a female RUDDY DUCK there on Wednesday round out the week's
waterfowl sightings.
A SHARP-SHINNED HAWK was hunting near Bayshore Road bird feeders. The
ridiculously tame, and inappropriately named, WILD TURKEY has continued
to make its presence known along Bayshore Road. An AMERICAN COOT can
sometimes be spotted among the scaup off the government dock.
RING-BILLED GULLS have returned in good numbers and will soon out-number
the HERRING GULLS that have dominated all winter. Among the latter
this week there have been sightings of ICELAND GULL, LESSER BLACK-BACKED
GULL, and GLAUCOUS GULL. For the past two days, the SNOWY OWL that had
previously spent time on the ice of Presqu'ile Bay was once again
sitting there. There are still good numbers of BARRED OWLS to be found,
including nine individuals by one observer.
AMERICAN ROBINS have been flying past the lighthouse on recent mornings
, one of them even singing when it landed. A few have been foraging on
lawns prior to the snowfall. Two birds that had apparently disappeared
from the Bayshore Road feeders where they had been for much of the
winter were re-discovered earlier this week after an apparent absence of
at least three weeks: WHITE-THROATED SPARROW and RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD.
The first HOUSE SPARROW at Presqu'ile since last fall dropped in briefly
at a feeder on Monday.
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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