Not surprisingly, birds, and especially birders, have been keeping a low
profile at Presqu'ile Provincial Park this week, most sightings taking
place from inside heated buildings.
Despite extremely cold weather, favourable winds have periodically moved
some of the ice out of the outer parts of Presqu'ile Bay, allowing
waterfowl to return from the open lake to feed in shallower water. The
species composition has been limited to typical winter birds. Even
GREATER SCAUP have been few in number and REDHEADS totally absent. Two
RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS on December 24 were an exception. Three WILD
TURKEYS strolled across Bayshore Road on Sunday, as they and others have
been wont to do lately. Gulls have also been scarce on most days,
though 222 HERRING GULLS were counted on the ice of Presqu'ile Bay on
Sunday. The only other gull seen in the past week was a single GREAT
BLACK-BACKED GULL. At least four BALD EAGLES have been present (two
adults and two immatures), but no more than two at a time. A male
NORTHERN HARRIER flew over on Friday and again on Sunday. A
SHARP-SHINNED HAWK and one larger accipiter were seen. The only owls
seen this week were SNOWY OWL and BARRED OWL. One wonders what other
owls are lurking in the woods. Perhaps there is a BOREAL OWL somewhere:
one of the two Park records of that species was on January 2 twenty-five
years ago. RED-BELLIED WOODPECKERS have shown up at two different
feeders on Bayshore Road. A WINTER WREN on Paxton Drive was a good
find, and AMERICAN ROBINS are still to be found there. Among the
numerous other birds regularly patronizing the feeders at 83 Bayshore
Road are three WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS, RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS, and two
COMMON GRACKLES.
--
Fred Helleiner
186 Bayshore RoadReo
K0K 1H0
613-475-5309
If visiting, access via Presqu'ile Provincial Park
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