Birders visiting Presqu'ile Provincial Park in the past week have
reported mixed results. Some, including a couple from Perth, Australia
on a birding/bicycling tour across Canada, have found most of what they
were looking for, while others had to content themselves with the
profusion of run-of-the-mill birds that keep summer birding in the Park
from being a dead loss. As always, however, there were one or two
surprises.
WOOD DUCKS and MALLARDS continue to be the most reliable ducks, but a
few GADWALLS and AMERICAN WIGEONS and a COMMON MERGANSER have also been
present this week. A surprising RED-NECKED GREBE was found on August 1,
and three were there the next day. LEAST BITTERNS are now more
difficult to find than last month, but singles were seen twice. GREAT
EGRETS are one of Presqu'ile's most reliable summer birds and continue
to be seen daily. Among raptors, TURKEY VULTURES, OSPREYS, a
SHARP-SHINNED HAWK, and two MERLINS were all seen this week, the latter
being the first of that species in several weeks. Perhaps surprisingly,
the shorebird migration yielded no new species this week, but two
BAIRD'S SANDPIPERS were on the beach on July 30. One of the resident
birders heard a BARRED OWL.
A visiting birder caught a brief but unmistakable glimpse of a
RED-HEADED WOODPECKER in flight. RED-BELLIED WOODPECKERS continue to
frequent the feeders at 83 Bayshore Road. This is the month when
OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHERS can sometimes be seen perched on elevated
snags. An ALDER FLYCATCHER was heard on July 31. The spectacle of
roosting swallows in the marsh (mostly PURPLE MARTINS, TREE SWALLOWS,
BANK SWALLOWS, and BARN SWALLOWS) is phenomenal. One observer initially
estimated the number at 10,000 but later revised it to 50,000.
BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHERS were seen by two observers today, and one of them
also saw a NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD. Some warbler migration appears to
have taken place this week, with sightings of NASHVILLE WARBLER,
NORTHERN PARULA, MAGNOLIA WARBLER, YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER, BLACKBURNIAN
WARBLER, and BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER among others. The only other
noteworthy birds in the Park this week were WHITE-THROATED SPARROW,
PURPLE FINCH, and PINE SISKIN.
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.
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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/
