The surprising, perhaps unprecedented, open conditions at Presqu'ile
Provincial Park (no snow having fallen yet this season) have not been
conducive to easy birding. Some of the "most wanted" target birds
require birders to wade to Gull Island under conditions involving heavy
wave action and strong currents, while land birds have not yet had to
converge on feeders to survive. Nevertheless, birding at either of
these sites is more profitable these days than wandering aimlessly
through the woods.
As usual at this time of year, swans are gathering in Presqu'ile Bay,
including a TRUMPETER SWAN on December 3 and up to ten TUNDRA SWANS in
the area off the camp office viewing stand and elsewhere. The majority
of GADWALLS are in the channel between Gull and High Bluff Islands,
while the few remaining AMERICAN WIGEONS and GREEN-WINGED TEAL are off
the camp office viewing stand whenever that area is not frozen over
(which has been most of the time so far). A REDHEAD and two RING-NECKED
DUCKS were farther east in the bay on December 2. A female eider,
likely a KING EIDER since one has been around Presqu'ile for over three
weeks, was off Sebastopol Island on December 7. Close to 100
WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS can be found by scanning the lake with a scope,
while somewhat closer views can usually be had off Salt Point, where a
BLACK SCOTER was seen on December 5. Five HOODED MERGANSERS were in
Presqu'ile Bay on December 3 and might still be there. Single COMMON
LOONS and HORNED GREBES have been seen twice this week, and a RED-NECKED
GREBE was near the lighthouse on December 3. Anywhere from one to three
DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS have been seen almost every day, either at
Salt Point or at the calf pasture.
An immature BALD EAGLE has been seen twice in the past week, most
recently on High Bluff Island today. A NORTHERN HARRIER was over the
marsh on December 2, and a ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK was on High Bluff Island
for the past two days. It is noteworthy that no NORTHERN GOSHAWKS have
been seen in the Park since late October. The flock of about 100
AMERICAN COOTS at the camp office viewing stand appears to be waiting
for freeze-up before moving farther out in the bay, where one or more
often remain until late in December. The only shorebirds this week were
a SANDERLING on Sunday and PURPLE SANDPIPERS on Gull Island: three on
Sunday and one today, helping to solidify Presqu'ile's reputation as the
"purple capital" of Ontario. There are still a few lingering
BONAPARTE'S GULLS. The big attraction for many people appears to be the
number of SNOWY OWLS in the Park, part of a nation-wide incursion in
recent weeks. Four were seen on the offshore islands on Sunday and
hardly a day goes by without at least one being seen, but unfortunately
they are difficult to access but can sometimes be seen from the mainland
with a scope or even binoculars.
A BELTED KINGFISHER was at the calf pasture on Saturday. Both
RED-BELLIED and PILEATED WOODPECKERS are present, and a day's birding in
the Park is likely to yield one or both of these species. A NORTHERN
SHRIKE has been seen infrequently along Bayshore Road in the past week.
A COMMON RAVEN was near the Park entrance on Tuesday. The CAROLINA WREN
at 83 Bayshore Road was calling this morning. Four birders on the marsh
boardwalk came across a MARSH WREN and a SWAMP SPARROW on the late date
of December 4. SNOW BUNTINGS were seen on the weekend. A late
BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD was at 85 Bayshore Road on December 2. Flocks of
PINE SISKINS are still in the Park.
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. Visitors to Gull Island not using a
boat should be prepared to wade through shin-deep water in which there
is often a swift current and a substrate that is somewhat uneven and
slippery. It should also be noted that, because duck hunting is given
priority on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, Gull Island,
High Bluff Island, Owen Point, and part of the calf pasture are not
available for bird-watching on those days. 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].
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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/
