During the coming week at Presqu'ile Provincial Park, the Ontario Field
Ornithologists will be visiting for their annual outing (on September
10) and Gull Island will again be opened to the public (on September
11). For the first time in many years, it will be possible to reach the
"island" without wading, unless a storm washes out the connecting bar
between now and then.
Dozens of Pied-billed Grebes are scattered around Presqu'ile Bay, and a
spring-plumaged Horned Grebe has been in Popham Bay since September 4.
Two Great Egrets were still present on September 1, and a Green Heron
was also seen on that date. Turkey Vultures flew over the Park on
September 4 (two) and 6 (one).
Although there have been plenty of Canada Geese at Presqu'ile all
summer, the flock that was southbound high in the sky on September 6
probably came from further north. It is time to begin watching for Snow
Geese among them. Except for Blue-winged Teal and Green-winged Teal,
most of the ducks around Gull Island have probably been here all
summer. There are three Common Mergansers in Popham Bay, and two
Red-breasted Mergansers were there on September 4.
A trickle of migrating hawks this week included an Osprey on September 5
and several each of Northern Harrier and Sharp-shinned Hawk. Merlins
are being seen regularly at the calf pasture and along the beach. On
two consecutive days, Ruffed Grouse were flushed, after remaining out of
sight all summer.
Although much below normal expectations for this time of year, there has
been a good variety (16 species) and a reasonable number of shorebirds
in the Park in the past week. One of the most reliable ones is a fully
spring-plumaged Black-bellied Plover that can almost always be spotted
on the north shore of Gull Island. There has also been a juvenile of
that species and two American Golden-Plovers. On September 5, a Greater
Yellowlegs was calling in the marsh, where that species commonly gathers
in late fall. On September 3, on the heels of the weekend downpour, a
flock of about 100 Lesser Yellowlegs, one of the largest concentrations
ever seen at Presqu'ile, landed briefly on the beach before continuing
on their way. A lone Whimbrel has been frequenting Gull Island for most
of the past week, remaining frustratingly hidden in the vegetation
except for brief forays down to the water's edge on September 2, 4, and
7. Up to six each of White-rumped Sandpipers and Baird's Sandpipers and
three each of Pectoral Sandpipers and Stilt Sandpipers have been seen.
A Buff-breasted Sandpiper was seen on September 1 and 6, and a Wilson's
Phalarope on September 4.
The highlights of the week were an unidentified jaeger on September
1(perhaps a Pomarine Jaeger) and an adult Pomarine Jaeger that
co-operated very nicely for everyone on a scheduled Park bird walk on
September 3. Somebody was tempted to call it "pom Sunday". Two Little
Gulls later that day were also a good find, the first of that species at
Presqu'ile this year. Common Terns and Common Nighthawks were still
present at the beach on September 6.
A Chimney Swift was at the beach on September 3, and Ruby-throated
Hummingbirds have been seen every day at feeders and often flying off
the tip of Owen Point en route to Mexico or Central America. A
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher was seen on September 3 and a Great Crested
Flycatcher on September 7. Blue-headed Vireos and Philadelphia Vireos
have appeared on several recent days. A Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher was seen
on September 3. Since the first American Pipit of the season was
located on August 31, their numbers have been increasing steadily. At
least twenty species of warblers have been at Presqu'ile this month,
including most of the commoner ones, as well as Cape May Warblers and a
report of an Orange-crowned Warbler. Two Lincoln's Sparrow sightings
and two different Dark-eyed Juncoes were a prelude to the hordes of
sparrows that will soon descend on the Park.
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. Access to the offshore islands is
restricted until September 10 to prevent disturbance to the colonial
nesting birds there.
Questions and comments about bird sightings at Presqu'ile may be
directed to: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
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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.
