I spent a week at Pinery Provincial Park from May 25 to June 1. I will relate a few sightings.
There is a HOODED WARBLER on territory along the forest opening under the powerline north of the gate house. I have had this species in this location in other years. BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO and YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO are abundant this year with a massive tent caterpillar outbreak. The caterpillars have moved beyond their primary food in cherries into several species of oak. I saw a major stand of Running Strawberry Bush defoliated. The caterpillars wisely ignore the Poison Ivy. The RED-HEADED WOODPECKER populations are excellent. I found at least 4 different territories. PILEATED WOODPECKER is also common. There is a nest near the Riverside Trail. Both CERULEAN WARBLER and PRAIRIE WARBLER were reported by others but I could not find them. SCARLET TANAGER is abundant, with a very visible nest near the Riverside Trail. RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER is prominent near the Riverside Trail. EASTERN PHOEBE nests are on almost very man made building and boardwalk, EASTERN BLUEBIRD pairs (at least 5) can be found in the Big Burleigh Forest Burn. MOORHENS can be found in several locales along the river. BALD EAGLE is often seen in the southern end of the park. WHIP-POOR-WILLS are common in the forest. I had 3 different birds calling one evening. ALDER FLYCATCHER is calling from the riverside forest. TUFTED TITMOUSE populations are high, with birds calling all over the park. The Grand Bend Sewage Lagoons had a few shorebirds, including: SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER, SEMIPALMATED PLOVER, BAIRDS SANDPIPER, SPOTTED SANDPIPER, DUNLIN and KILLDEER. There were many broods of mallards and wood ducks on the back ponds, plus assorted puddle duck species. Unfortunately, a subdivision is destroying a major chunk of the forest and the ancient post glacial sand dunes just outside the eastern side of the park. When the park land was purchased in the 1950s and 1960s a long strip of land along the highway could not be purchased. This is now being developed. Paul Eagles _______________________________________________ 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/
