Migration was rather slow at Presqu'ile Provincial Park for much of the
past week, but that changed dramatically on Tuesday and even more so
today. The woods were/are full of warblers and other passerines.
Typically, the waterfowl migration has pretty well ceased, but one
species, BRANT, can be expected to show up by the hundreds next week.
The four NORTHERN PINTAILS off Gull Island may soon move on, along with
the RING-NECKED DUCKS still in Presqu'ile Bay. For some reason, no one
has reported seeing any BLUE-WINGED TEAL in the Park this spring. There
were still six RED-THROATED LOONS in Popham Bay yesterday, and HORNED
GREBES remain in small numbers offshore. A report of a male and female
EARED GREBE at the calf pasture on April 29 needs to be documented with
a rare bird report. A LEAST BITTERN on the marsh boardwalk on May 1
supersedes the previous earliest date by one day. As many as twelve
GREAT EGRETS were counted on High Bluff Island with a scope from the
mainland, but undoubtedly there are many more.
A BALD EAGLE was reported on April 28. There have been several
sightings of COOPER'S HAWK and one of a MERLIN. SPOTTED SANDPIPERS and
an AMERICAN WOODCOCK in broad daylight, both on May 1, are the only
notable shorebirds of the week. Not noted in last week's report were
two LITTLE GULLS on April 26. Small numbers of COMMON TERNS have been
around since last week. A BARRED OWL was heard last night and this morning.
The first RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD appeared just as this report was
about to be written at dusk. RED-BELLIED WOODPECKERS have become
commonplace at Presqu'ile, with three being seen on one day. Among the
newly returned insectivores are several each of LEAST and GREAT CRESTED
FLYCATCHER and BLUE-HEADED and WARBLING VIREO. HOUSE WRENS and MARSH
WRENS are back in full force. Several BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHERS have been
seen. There have been two sightings of VEERIES, and WOOD THRUSHES have
also been heard. GRAY CATBIRDS and a CEDAR WAXWING are the first of
those species in quite some time. It is unnecessary to enumerate the
eighteen warbler species in the Park in the past two days. A
BLUE-WINGED WARBLER was seen today, and the songs of that species and of
GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLER were heard but the latter was not included in the
total species count because those species are known to hybridize and to
interchange their songs. Others of interest because they are a bit on
the early side are NORTHERN PARULA, CHESTNUT-SIDED, MAGNOLIA, CAPE MAY,
BLACKBURNIAN, and AMERICAN REDSTART. SCARLET TANAGERS seen on May 1
were also early. A report of an AMERICAN TREE SPARROW on that date is
remarkably late. ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAKS are increasing day by day,
with one report of twenty today. A BOBOLINK and 25 RUSTY BLACKBIRDS
today were of interest. The first two ORCHARD ORIOLES showed up on May
1. There are still a few PINE SISKINS coming to feeders, as well as two
HOUSE SPARROWS, never common at Presqu'ile.
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].
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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/
