Greetings Ontbirders,
I went out this evening to Owen Pt./Gull Island and was amazed to have
two hulking Common Eiders fly in and land in front of me at 630 p.m.
The birds landed in the channel between Gull Island and High Bluff
Island then swam a little to the south (left) of the channel, and were
seen from the western end of Gull. Both appear to be females and are
very dark brown - almost as dark as a female scoter. I managed to get
some very bad pictures in the low light but on one of them the
diagnostic bill feathering/nostril placement (as best shown in a line
drawing in Birds of Canada by Earl Godfrey) is visible.
To see them you need to walk to Owen Pt. then wade the knee-deep water
through the channel to Gull Island. Once there walk to the far (west)
end of Gull and scan the waterfowl between Gull and High Bluff
(although obviously they could move around so watch everywhere)!
Birders need to also know that the annual waterfowl hunt at Presqu'ile
starts this Saturday so if you want to see them, I suggest a visit
Thursday or Friday. Once the hunt starts birders (and the general
public) are not allowed on Owen Pt. or the Islands on Sat., Mon.,
Wed., and Fri.
Lots of shorebirds tonight as well including 3 Golden Plover, 1 juv.
Red Knot, 1 juv. Stilt, 4 Lesser and 1 Greater yellowlegs, 10
Pectoral, 1 juv. Dunlin, 5 ad. White-rumped and at least 150
Sanderling. Also on Gull was my first Horned lark of fall.
Cheers,
Doug McRae
Directions: Presqu'ile Provincial Park is south of Brighton, Ontario
on the north shore of Lake Ontario. Follow the park signs south from
Brighton. Once in the park, drive to the Park Store parking lot and
walk out to Owen Pt. (Park maps are available at the gate)
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