Hi Ontbirders, Bruce Di Labio and I spent the morning at Presqu'ile and saw a number of interesting things including:
4 Red-thr. Loon - off Beach 2 1 Common Loon - Presqu'ile Bay 1 Red-necked Grebe - " " 1 Black-cr. Night-Heron - nesting bush on Sebastopol Pt, Gull Island 16 active GB Heron nests visible in the western woodlot of High Bluff Is. as seen from Owen Pt., none seen in eastern woodlot. 1 Caspian Tern - Owen Pt. 2 Tree Swallow (first since late March) 1 ad N. Shrike - Calf Pasture (different bird from 8 April) 1 Fox Sparrow in full song 1 strange gull - we had a quick look at a gull that flew past Owen Pt. It looked essentially like an adult Ring-bill but the uppersurface of the wings appeared white without markings, and the underside had extensive dark colouring to the outer two or three primaries reminiscent of an adult Black-headed. Need to get a better look to figure it out but be on the lookout. Presqu'ile Bay still has tremendous numbers of waterfowl (22 spp) , including 1 female Ruddy at the Govt. dock, 20+ Hooded Merg, 40 Gadwall, 60 A Wigeon, 1 Pintail, 10 Wood Duck, approx. 3000 G Scaup, 300 Lesser, 150 Rn Duck, 500 Redhead, 450 Canvasback, 600 Long-tailed (mostly near the Lighthouse), + 3 grebes and 1 loon. The ice edge is currently off the Calf Pasture spit but is opening up by the hour. The marsh off the Camp Office was frozen at 9 a.m. and open by noon. Finally, Chorus Frogs are once again singing after a 10 day freeze! Cheers, Doug and Bruce Presqu'ile is reached by going south on Hwy 30 from Hwy 401, and follow the park signs through town. Doug McRae <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
