Hello Ontbirders,
I was birding Owen Pt. at Presqu'ile Prov. Park from 0600-0800 this
morning and saw some migrants of interest, including some 237
shorebirds of 9 species.
Shorebirds included 2 B-b Plover, 18 Semi Plover, 4 Killdeer (local
breeders), 1 Whimbrel, 5 Ruddy Turnstone, 1 Red Knot, 2 Semi
Sandpiper, 17 Least Sandpiper, 187 Dunlin. Virtually all shorebirds
were on the gravel bar between Owen Pt. and Gull Island - some
resting and some feeding on items off the gravel surface (midges?).
The Whimbrel flew over calling and circling a few times but continued
NNW over Popham Bay. A number of the Dunlin kept flying off NNW in
tight balls only to return a few minutes later, a behaviour that
usually means they won't be staying long. Only about 25 shorebirds
were on the main raked beach (mostly Semi Plovers at or near the
shoreline), which is not surprising since all the traditional
ephemeral spring feeding ponds that were so critical for the
traditional large groundings we used to get here have have been
systematically drained and filled in by Ontario Parks/MNR over the
past five years.
Other birds of note included a single Brant on the same gravel bar, 2
singing Willow Flycatchers along the Owen Pt. trail, 2 Lesser Scaup,
1 L-t Duck, and 3 Redhead - all in Popham Bay. While I didn't have
time to do much warbler watching, a number of spp. could be heard
including a Mourning near the Park Store and many Wilson's singing
everywhere.
Cheers,
Doug McRae
Doug McRae Nature Services
P.O. Box 3010
Brighton, Ontario
Canada K0K 1H0
613-475-5014
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Directions: Presqu'ile is located south of Brighton, on the north
shore of Lake Ontario. Take the Brighton exit from Hwy. 401 and go
south into town then follow the signs to the park. Owen Pt. is the
southern end of the Presqu'ile beach.
