Understandably, insect-eating birds are having a difficult time at
Presqu'ile Provincial Park these days, unless they had the good sense to
delay their arrival, which many of them seem to have done. Other
migrants are returning more or less on schedule, including one bird that
passes through only rarely but usually right at this time of year.
Among the remaining dabbling ducks, GREEN-WINGED TEAL are by far the
most plentiful, and again today were accompanied by a pair of NORTHERN
SHOVELERS. All three species of scoters have been at Presqu'ile this
week. A SURF SCOTER was at the lighthouse on April 19, three were there
today, and a pair of BLACK SCOTERS was there on April 18 and 21.
Another pair, or perhaps the same ones, was off the day use area on
April 19. Normally in mid- to late April, RED-THROATED LOONS are
present in numbers of close to a dozen or more on any given day, but in
the past week I know of only one being seen, as usual in Popham Bay.
GREAT EGRETS and BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERONS have not yet reached their
summer numbers but a few can be seen on most days.
A WILD TURKEY was not far from the lighthouse this morning. Most
shorebirds are not expected before May, but an early SPOTTED SANDPIPER
showed up today and three DUNLINS were at Owen Point on at least two
days earlier in the week. BONAPARTE'S GULLS and CASPIAN TERNS have been
scarcer than normal this week, but more should soon be arriving, perhaps
accompanied by a LITTLE GULL.
During the cold weather, hundreds of swallows gather at Presqu'ile,
foraging for insects low over the water and resting periodically on
lawns. Whenever the air temperature rises a few degrees, they disperse
and rest as needed on wires and trees. The vast majority so far have
been TREE SWALLOWS and BARN SWALLOWS, but PURPLE MARTINS and NORTHERN
ROUGH-WINGED, BANK, and CLIFF SWALLOWS have all been seen . Only one of
the latter was seen, on April 16, but the others were all present this
morning.
Unquestionably, the highlight of the week was a TUFTED TITMOUSE that
visited a feeder at 83 Bayshore Road on April 19 but has eluded birders
since then. YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS were seen in two different parts of
the Park this morning, but not yet in the large numbers expected soon.
PINE WARBLERS are likely to be next. An EASTERN TOWHEE has been at 83
Bayshore Road since Saturday and might still be there. A FIELD SPARROW
was near the Park store on April 15. FOX SPARROWS and SWAMP SPARROWS
are present in small numbers. A WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW in full breeding
(alternate) plumage at 83 Bayshore Road on April 17 would likely be a
record early date if it were a migrant. Probably, however, it is the
same bird that was there all winter but was still in its basic plumage
when last seen on March 31. If so, the moult would have had to take
place in barely over two weeks. RUSTY BLACKBIRDS have been at the
lighthouse and in a swampy area beside High Bluff campground. The first
PURPLE FINCH of the year was at 83 Bayshore Road on April 17. A few
PINE SISKINS have also been there as recently as April 19.
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. 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.
Questions and comments about bird sightings at Presqu'ile may be
directed to: [email protected].
--
Fred Helleiner
186 Bayshore Road,
Brighton, Ontario, Canada, K0K 1H0
VOICE: (613) 475 5309
If visiting, access via Presqu'ile Provincial Park.
_______________________________________________
ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial
birding organization.
Send bird reports to [email protected]
For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
