When true winter conditions arrived at Presqu'ile Provincial Park on
Sunday, birding became much more difficult, not only because of the
birders' discomfort but also because many birds went into hiding or
moved elsewhere. Nevertheless, the combined efforts of a number of
birders on that day proved that, even under adverse circumstances,
Presqu'ile can yield a surprising number and variety of interesting birds.
A Common Loon in Presqu'ile Bay on December 18 and 19 has not been seen
since the bay froze over. Now that many of the bays in the surrounding
area have frozen over, the number of Mute Swans at Presqu'ile has
swollen to an alarming 350 birds. Accompanying them are about 20 Tundra
Swans.
Even after the freeze-up, about 200 Redheads remained in Presqu'ile Bay,
finding patches of open water wherever they could. Most of them have
since disappeared. Judging from past experience, they will return with
the next mild spell. The Ring-necked Duck that was with them from
December 17 to 19 has also disappeared. There were still three
White-winged Scoters in the bay on December 19. A small group (6 or 7)
of Hooded Mergansers was in the bay on December 18 and 19, and a
Red-breasted Merganser was also there on December 17 and 19.
Up to three Bald Eagles have been around the Park recently, two
immatures and an adult that has been sitting on the ice of the bay on
three of the last four days. A Sharp-shinned Hawk spent ten minutes at
a feeder, watching the smaller birds.
The remaining two Purple Sandpipers from a larger group that arrived
late in November were still on Gull Island on December 19. Also on that
date, three late Bonaparte's Gulls flew over Owen Point. In a classic
case of being in the right place at the right time, two separate groups
of birders watched a very rare adult Ivory Gull, a wanderer from the
Arctic, fly past them along the south shore of the peninsula. Although
there have been no subsequent reports of that bird in the area, it may
possibly still be in the vicinity.
The past week has been an excellent one for owls at Presqu'ile. In
addition to sightings of one each of the resident Great Horned Owls and
Barred Owls, three Snowy Owls were present, two on the offshore islands
and one on the ice of Presqu'ile Bay for two consecutive days. The
biggest surprise was a well-described Great Gray Owl in Jobes' woods on
December 18. Subsequent efforts to re-locate that bird have not yet
succeeded.
The most recent sighting of the elusive Northern Flicker on Bayshore
Road was on December 22, when it appeared at 94 Bayshore. Three
Northern Shrikes were discovered in the Park on December 19. The Tufted
Titmouse frequenting the end of Bayshore Road since October is making
more and more visits each day to the feeders at 186 Bayshore Road. The
four Winter Wrens discovered on December 19 (two each in separate
locations) have undoubtedly been in the Park throughout recent weeks.
Two White-throated Sparrows at 83 Bayshore Road are among an unusually
small number of over-wintering sparrows. After a flurry of Common
Redpoll observations up to last weekend, hardly any have been seen since.
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 should be
prepared to wade through shin-deep water in which there is often a swift
current and a substrate that is somewhat uneven. The ice between Owen
Point and Gull Island is considered unsafe at present.
Questions and comments about bird sightings at Presqu'ile may be
directed to: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
--
Fred Helleiner
186 Bayshore Road,
R.R. #4,
Brighton, Ontario, Canada, K0K 1H0
VOICE: (613) 475 5309
If visiting, access via Presqu'ile Provincial Park.
