I was down today and 'feasted' quietly on the shorebirds for some time. I noticed the photographer on Sebastopol Island and he flushed the owl over to Gull Island. I approached to a safe distance and stayed there watching. He approached from the opposite end. The bird didn't show concern for me but I watched it change its stance when he saw the other person who was getting closer. It then regurgitated a pellet and moments later flew off returning to its original site on Sebastopol. This person is not a birder but has experience with Snowies on the islands in previous years from his discussion with me afterwards. Unfortunately he approaches too closely. They will allow closer approach to a point but I give them their space so they do not fly unnecessarily. He gives photographers a bad name.
Brian Morin On Thu, Dec 10, 2015 at 5:15 PM, Fred Helleiner <[email protected]> wrote: > Birding has picked up a little at Presqu'ile Provincial Park over the past > week, largely because of an influx of birders anxious to see one of the > Park's specialties. > > The long-staying but unreliable pair of SNOW GEESE was seen again on > Sunday morning. On the morning of December 7, seven TUNDRA SWANS were > sleeping off the lighthouse as if having just completed a long migratory > flight. Four GADWALLS were off Gull Island on Tuesday. A NORTHERN SHOVELER > was seen on two different days. Both male and female NORTHERN PINTAIL have > been among the MALLARDS in the marsh off and on during the week. A female > RING-NECKED DUCK was off 38 Bayshore Road this morning. SURF, > WHITE-WINGED, and BLACK SCOTERS have all been seen this week. Although > HARLEQUIN DUCKS are rare at Presqu'ile, most records come from December and > the species should be watched for. > > Five WILD TURKEYS were at the calf pasture on Tuesday. A RED-THROATED > LOON flew past Owen Point. Rather late sightings of both PIED-BILLED and > HORNED GREBE were noted on December 8 and 7, respectively. An AMERICAN > COOT was off 38 Bayshore Road this morning. There has been a steady and > unexpected increase this week in both numbers and variety of shorebirds on > Gull Island. On Sunday a single PURPLE SANDPIPER, first spotted on Friday > by hunters, delighted a large group of birders who had come hoping to see > that species, which is rare in most parts of Ontario but somewhat regular > at Presqu'ile in the last two months of the year. By Tuesday it had been > joined by a DUNLIN, and today both of those species were joined by a very > late SANDERLING. All three of those birds were close enough to each other > to be seen within the field of a spotting scope. Pending confirmation, a > possible BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE was photographed this afternoon. A LITTLE > GULL and a LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL were on beach 1 on Sunday, an ICELAND > GULL was off Gull Island on Tuesday, and the first GLAUCOUS GULL of the > season was there today. The SNOWY OWL that first showed up over a month > ago was still present today but was disturbed by an overly keen > photographer. It was back later on Sebastopol Island. > > A RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER appeared at 83 Bayshore Road and a PILEATED > WOODPECKER flew over Bayshore Road this morning. An AMERICAN KESTREL, the > first in several weeks, was seen on Tuesday. A birder heard the call note > of a HERMIT THRUSH but could not locate the bird. An AMERICAN ROBIN, one > of seven seen this week, was at Owen Point, perhaps awaiting an opportunity > to cross the lake. The first CEDAR WAXWING in a few weeks was found on > Tuesday. Two SNOW BUNTINGS were also seen on that day. A COMMON GRACKLE > was at 83 Bayshore Road on Sunday. A SONG SPARROW was on Gull Island > today. HOUSE SPARROWS appear to have taken a liking to the feeders at 102 > Bayshore Road. > > 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 water that is hardly more > than ankle-deep at the deepest point, > not taking into account any wave action,.in which there > is often a swift current and a substrate that is somewhat uneven and > slippery. It should also be noted that, because duck hunting is given > priority on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, Owen Point, Gull > Island, > High Bluff Island, and part of the calf pasture are not > available for bird-watching on those days. 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] <mailto:[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 > > > _______________________________________________ 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
