Birders visiting Presqu'ile Provincial Park in winter can expect to find
over 30 species of birds on a good day. Yet that is only a fraction of
what is actually present, for 58 species have been seen in the Park in
the past week, an indication of what can be found when a number of
birders contribute their efforts, as was the case during the Christmas
Bird Count and subsequently. Now that the solstice is behind us, there
will be even more daylight hours (well, at least minutes) during which
birds can be located.
MUTE, TRUMPETER, and TUNDRA SWANS have all been seen in Presqu'ile Bay
this week. The biggest concentration of dabbling ducks is off High
Bluff Island, including a number of GADWALLS. Three NORTHERN PINTAILS,
two males and a female, were at Owen Point today. There has been a
steady build-up of /Aythya/ ducks more typical of late January in the
outer part of Presqu'ile Bay, between the government dock and the
lighthouse. The vast majority are REDHEADS (several hundred) and
GREATER SCAUP, but two CANVASBACKS and a RING-NECKED DUCK were present
on Sunday. In addition to WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS, which have been seen
every day for over a week, there was also a female BLACK SCOTER near the
lighthouse on December 19. Up to eleven HOODED MERGANSERS have been
counted in Presqu'ile Bay. A COMMON LOON and a HORNED GREBE were near
the lighthouse on December 20 and 19, respectively, and a RED-NECKED
GREBE was in Popham Bay on December 18. After a hiatus of a week, a
late DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT was found again on December 18.
This has been a good week for hawks, with seven species seen, including
BALD EAGLE, NORTHERN HARRIER, ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK, and MERLIN. Apparently
taking a lesson from the chickadees that do it all the time, a RUFFED
GROUSE, one of six counted on the Christmas Bird Count, allowed itself
to be hand-fed. For this late date, an estimated 40 AMERICAN COOTS
today was an unusually large number. Likewise, the eight PURPLE
SANDPIPERS on December 18 and 21, down to seven on December 22, were
more than usual. Seven BONAPARTE'S GULLS were still present today, as
was an ICELAND GULL first discovered a week earlier and seen twice
since. SNOWY OWLS, three or four at a time, have been regular on the
offshore islands and on the beach. While single birders are unlikely to
stumble on a BARRED OWL, the efforts of a good number turned up three on
the Christmas Bird Count. Night-time owling in "the fingers" might turn
up a GREAT HORNED OWL, which has not been reported at Presqu'ile for a
few months.
Two RED-BELLIED WOODPECKERS were counted on the Christmas Bird Count.
Two observers found a NORTHERN FLICKER on December 20. It seems
unlikely that the NORTHERN SHRIKE that has been frequenting the calf
pasture as recently as yesterday is one of the same two birds that were
seen today in the day use area and at the entrance to the marsh
boardwalk. In addition to the CAROLINA WREN that has been regular at
83 Bayshore Road for weeks, another was found on Sunday in "the
fingers". A big surprise was the appearance of a SAVANNAH SPARROW on
December 18 at the feeders at 83 Bayshore Road. It was still present
there and at 85 Bayshore Road for at least the next two days. A SWAMP
SPARROW at the marsh boardwalk on December 18 was also late. The SNOW
BUNTING flock on Gull Island had dwindled to four birds by today.
Twenty PINE SISKINS were recorded on Sunday.
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. 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/
