Presqu’ile Bird Report for Week of 20-26 Nov 2020
By Doug McRae This report is primarily based on sightings gleaned from eBird, and those reported directly to me. I would be grateful to hear of any interesting sightings. You can reach me at [email protected]. Your observations are very much appreciated. If you are reporting something rare, please provide some details (exact location, ID features noted) or photographs if possible. OVERVIEW: It was a fairly quiet week without a lot of coverage. Most migrants have gone now, although some lingering individuals remain. HIGHLIGHTS: SANDHILL CRANE, PURPLE SANDPIPER, GRAY CATBIRD, RED AND WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL RING-NECKED DUCK – small numbers are still in the marsh until freeze up with a high count of 32 on 23 Nov. SURF SCOTER – 5 were seen off Gull Is. on 21 Nov. RED-NECKED GREBE – 1 was seen at Owen Pt. on 21 Nov. BALD EAGLE – 1 was seen on 24 Nov. SANDHILL CRANE – a flock of 40 went over the Calf Pasture on 24 Nov. DUNLIN – 2 were seen on Gull Is on 22 Nov and 24 Nov and one was on Beach 1 on 26 Nov. PURPLE SANDPIPER – the lingering single bird was on Gull Is. on 22 Nov with numbers swelling to 4 on 24 Nov. ICELAND GULL – there were several reports this week with an adult and first winter on 24 Nov and 2 first winter birds on Beach 1 on 26 Nov. TERN SPP. – 2 small terns (Common/Arctic type) were seen flying past Owen Pt. but could not be identified to species. NORTHERN FLICKER – 1 on 22 Nov was the most recent report. PEREGRINE FALCON – an adult flew over the causeway marsh on 26 Nov. NORTHERN SHRIKE – 2 different birds were seen on 24 Nov and a single was seen the next day. The report of one last week was in error so the 24 Nov birds are the first of the winter. HORNED LARK – small numbers were seen on Gull Is. through the week with a high of 5 on 24 Nov. GRAY CATBIRD – a very late bird was photographed on Owen Pt. on 25 Nov. AMERICAN PIPIT – 1 on 22 Nov was the most recent (and last?) report. LAPLAND LONGSPUR – 1 was with Snow Buntings on Gull Is. on 22 Nov. SNOW BUNTING - seen through the week in larger numbers with a high of 61 on 22 Nov. WHITE-THROATED SPARROW – mostly gone now except for birds at feeders, with a high of 6 at one feeder on 25 Nov. NORTHERN CARDINAL – 10 birds at one feeder on 25 Nov was a high count. BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD – 1 was with a small number of Red-winged Blackbirds and Common Grackles at a feeder on 21 Nov. RED CROSSBILL – 4 birds were seen near the Camp Office on 24 Nov. WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL – 6 were seen on 21 Nov. COMMON REDPOLL – small numbers seen most days with a higher count of 120 on 24 Nov. PINE SISKIN – small numbers seen through the week with a high of 12 on 21 Nov. EVENING GROSBEAK – 12 on 21 Nov was the only report this week. Directions: Presqu’ile Provincial Park is located south of Brighton on the north shore of Lake Ontario. It is well signed from either Hwy. 401 or Cty. Rd. 2. Birders should be aware that duck hunting is permitted in the Park on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays and access restrictions are in place on hunting days. This means that the islands, marsh, and Calf Pasture Point are off limits. Owen Pt. and the High Bluff Campground are also now closed until late December. Closed areas are signed. Doug McRae Shrew Solutions Inc. 240 Presqu’ile Parkway Brighton, Ontario K0K 1H0 613-475-5014 H 613-243-4161 C -- Ontbirds and Birdnews are moderated email Listservs provided by the Ontario Field Ornithologists (OFO) as a service to all birders in Ontario. Birdnews is reserved for announcements, location summaries, first of year reports, etc. To post a message on Birdnews, send an email to: [email protected]. If you have any questions or concerns, contact the Birdnews Moderators by email at [email protected]. Please review posting rules and guidelines at http://ofo.ca/site/content/listserv-guidelines To edit your membership settings visit the Birdnews setup page at: http://ontbirds.ca/mailman/listinfo/birdnews_ontbirds.ca. During the COVID-19 pandemic, all Ontario birders should be taking extra precautions and following local, provincial, and federal regulations regarding physical distancing and non-essential travel. To find out more about OFO, please visit our website at ofo.ca or Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/OntarioFieldOrnithologists.
