With new birds returning to Presqu'ile Provincial Park almost every day,
it is easy to forget that it is still only July. Unless one is
expecting hordes of migrants, birding can be rewarding in the Park even
at this early stage of the fall migration. The rarity of the week is
causing frustration for birders on more than one count.
Apart from the WOOD DUCKS in the marsh, the only significant
congregation of ducks is on the north shore of Gull Island, where eight
species were seen in the past week, including up to six GREATER SCAUP.
A surprising total of 14 WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS and three COMMON
GOLDENEYES were seen on July 23 and 24, respectively. A PIED-BILLED
GREBE was escorting three newly fledged young in the woodpile marsh.
Two observers found nine LEAST BITTERNS in the marsh, almost twice as
many as anyone had seen at Presqu'ile before. A count of 35 GREAT
EGRETS was also a high number. A GREEN HERON was at the calf pasture
this morning. For the second week in a row, an IBIS of the /Plegadis/
genus was in the pond on Gull Island, where it stayed for at least four
hours on July 24 and allowed pictures and a video to be taken. The two
observers are unfamiliar with those birds but have agreed to forward
their photographs for a more specific identification. That the bird has
not yet been identified as to species is one source of frustration for
birders, but more tantalizing is the fact that its haunt is off limits
to the general public and the bird is not visible from the adjacent
mainland at Owen Point. On a positive note, the fact that what is
presumably the same bird was present twice nine days apart gives hope
that it may linger there for a few more weeks until access is permitted
or that in the meantime it may appear in some other equally suitable
habitat at those times when it is not in the "forbidden" place where it
has been seen this month.
TURKEY VULTURES are not common at Presqu'ile but have been seen at least
twice this week. OSPREY and NORTHERN HARRIER have also been seen.
Since RUFFED GROUSE stopped drumming in May, they have been difficult to
find, but one observer found one this week. Nine species of shorebirds
have appeared on the beach in the past week, but still in small
numbers. Among them were SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS, GREATER and LESSER
YELLOWLEGS, SANDERLINGS, and BAIRD'S SANDPIPERS. If the water level in
Lake Ontario continues to drop as it has in the past fortnight, there
will be more algae flats exposed and we can expect to see others such as
WHIMBREL, PECTORAL SANDPIPER, or STILT SANDPIPER. Fourteen BONAPARTE'S
GULLS were on the beach on July 23. A moderately large flock of ROCK
PIGEONS, never common at Presqu'ile, flew over Sebastopol Island today.
A BARRED OWL was heard twice this week.
RED-BELLIED WOODPECKERS continue to patronize the feeders at 83 Bayshore
Road. WILLOW FLYCATCHERS were calling on July 23 and 24. All the
regular species of swallows, including 200 BANK SWALLOWS and some CLIFF
SWALLOWS have been among the flocks gathering in the marsh and on the
wires. Eleven species of warblers were found in the past week,
including some that were obvious migrants, as suggested by where they
were in the Park. They included NASHVILLE, NORTHERN PARULA,
YELLOW-RUMPED, BLACKBURNIAN, PINE, BLACK-AND-WHITE, OVENBIRD, and
NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH. WHITE-THROATED SPARROW and PURPLE FINCH round out
this week's sightings of interest.
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/
