The presence of many experienced birders at Presqu'ile Provincial Park
during the Waterfowl Viewing Weekend resulted in a plethora of
interesting bird sightings, especially early arriving spring migrants.
Flocks of CANADA GEESE were flying north overhead this morning, the
first movement of that sort this spring. Dabbling ducks have been slow
to arrive, but among them were a WOOD DUCK, a few GADWALLS, a NORTHERN
SHOVELER, and a few NORTHERN PINTAILS. Among the thousands of diving
ducks, the highlights were a male HARLEQUIN DUCK that stayed for a
couple of hours on March 14 and two RUDDY DUCKS, one of which was still
present this morning. Two RED-THROATED LOONS were in Presqu'ile Bay on
Saturday, and one was still there on three of the past four days,
including this morning. There was one sighting of a HORNED GREBE
yesterday, and two RED-NECKED GREBES have been seen repeatedly,
including one this morning. A GREAT BLUE HERON flew past on Sunday.
Several BALD EAGLES were seen on the weekend, but none since then. On
Sunday, a ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK and a MERLIN were seen. NORTHERN HARRIERS
should be the next hawks to arrive. An AMERICAN COOT was on the shore
of Presqu'ile Bay on Sunday. Both ICELAND and GLAUCOUS GULLS were seen
in the past week. This writer apologizes to those birders to whom he
showed a SNOWY OWL that later proved to be a chunk of ice doing a superb
imitation. As usual, BARRED OWLS were seen by several people.
NORTHERN SHRIKES were seen on Sunday and Monday. A COMMON RAVEN was
seen on Sunday, and two were patrolling the RING-BILLED GULL colony on
Gull Island this morning. A few HORNED LARKS have been flying
overhead. The first SONG SPARROW arrived on Tuesday. A wintering
WHITE-THROATED SPARROW was still lingering at 83 Bayshore Road on the
weekend. RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS, COMMON GRACKLE, and BROWN-HEADED
COWBIRDS have all found feeders on Bayshore Road. Among the COMMON
REDPOLLS at 83 Bayshore Road, a HOARY REDPOLL has been seen a few times.
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
_______________________________________________
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