A few more fall migrants have arrived at Presqu'ile Provincial Park.
Most land birds have gone silent, which makes it more difficult to find
them, but the numbers of water birds have increased dramatically with
the addition of this year's young. The last copy of /For the Birds -
Recollections and Rambles///has been sold, but a copy may be found in
the Brighton Public Library. The author wishes to thank all those who
bought a copy and thus supported the environmental fund of The Friends
of Presqu'ile.
A BLUE-WINGED TEAL, a species that has not been in the Park for many
weeks, landed in the marsh. A male SCAUP was with a flock of REDHEADS
in Popham Bay. Again this week, a LEAST BITTERN was seen. Just outside
the Park gate a GREAT EGRET was seen, the first in almost a month. A
SHARP-SHINNED HAWK was seen on three different days and a MERLIN on one day.
BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS were on the beach on two consecutive days. On one
of those days there were also three SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS and six
KILLDEER, the most of that species since the spring. Other shorebirds
included 13 SANDERLINGS, a SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER, and a LEAST
SANDPIPER. Formerly common in the marsh, BLACK TERNS have been rare at
Presqu'ile for several decades, but one was flying around the marsh on
Tuesday.
Single BARRED OWLS were encountered on three different days. The first
two COMMON NIGHTHAWKS migrated overhead on August 8. There was also a
migrant CHIMNEY SWIFT on that day and on August 12. RED-BELLIED
WOODPECKERS are regular at 83 Bayshore Road. The presence of a
YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHER on August 13 suggests that OLIVE-SIDED
FLYCATCHERS might also be in the Park, since they pass through at about
the same time. A BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER appeared on three consecutive
days. Among the warblers seen this week that were probably migrants
were a NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH, a BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER, two MOURNING
WARBLERS, and a CAPE MAY WARBLER. Two EASTERN TOWHEES were seen
yesterday, and a PURPLE FINCH 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. 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].
--
Fred Helleiner
186 Bayshore Road
Brighton, Ontario
K0K 1H0
613-475-5309
If visiting, access via Presqu'ile Provincial Park
_______________________________________________
ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial
birding organization.
Send bird reports to [email protected]
For information about ONTBIRDS including how to unsubscribe visit
http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdssetup
Posting guidelines can be found at
http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdsguide
