At Presqu'ile Provincial Park, the almost complete absence of snow and
of ice in the usual places has been a mixed blessing for birders. On
the one hand, the land birds are widely dispersed rather than
concentrated at feeders, but there is a greater abundance of water birds
than one would normally expect in mid-January.
Among the hundreds of CANADA GEESE, one CACKLING GOOSE was noticed as a
flock flew over Owen Point on January 6. Again this week, both
TRUMPETER and TUNDRA SWANS have been seen among the hundreds of MUTE
SWANS in Presqu'ile Bay, which is largely free of ice. In fact there
are patches of open water even around the edges of the marsh. That has
accelerated the influx of /Aythya/ ducks that normally occurs later in
the month. CANVASBACKS have been building up all week to double digits,
with at least two dozen counted yesterday. REDHEADS are also increasing
in number day by day and between one and two thousand are now seen
daily. Among them was an early RING-NECKED DUCK on January 11 and a few
LESSER SCAUP on January 8. There are a few WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS in
Presqu'ile Bay. With the exception of January 6, the male BARROW'S
GOLDENEYE at the lighthouse has been seen every day for over two weeks,
though on one day it disappointed a group of visiting birders by
disappearing into the calm open water for a few hours during their
search. A HORNED GREBE, unusual in winter, was at the lighthouse on
January 7. A late DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT was in the vicinity of Salt
Point from January 6 to 9 and is likely still somewhere in Presqu'ile Bay.
On three consecutive days, immature BALD EAGLES were sitting on the ice
of Presqu'ile Bay, with two present on January 10. A NORTHERN HARRIER
was at the calf pasture on January 9. Up to two RUFFED GROUSE have been
visiting at 83 Bayshore Road. The gull situation varies from day to
day. Often they gather on the ice of Presqu'ile Bay, where a GLAUCOUS
GUL.L was sitting on January 6. Two of them and an ICELAND GULL were on
the other side of Presqu'ile Bay yesterday, and one of the latter was on
Gull Island. There has still been no report of an IVORY GULL, but the
prospect of a LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL in the coming weeks seems more
likely. The five SNOWY OWLS, some of which can often be seen from Owen
Point and/or in Presqu'ile Bay, have become an attraction among local
residents. One observer saw between one and five every day for a week.
Four people saw a BARRED OWL one morning near the calf pasture. Single
NORTHERN SHRIKES have been seen at Owen Point and the calf pasture.
BROWN CREEPERS have been found on three different days near the
lighthouse, and EUROPEAN STARLINGS have already begun to investigate
their nest site on the lighthouse structure itself. A flock of CEDAR
WAXWINGS seen yesterday was the first in several weeks in the Park. A
SNOW BUNTING was on Gull Island on January 8.
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 knee-deep water in which there
is often a swift current and a substrate that is somewhat uneven and
slippery. Moreover, there can be a great deal of ice on the surrounding
shore. 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/
