Mid-October birding at Presqu'ile Provincial Park means that searching
the woods for birds is usually much less productive than scanning the
waters and the shores. With a few exceptions, that has been the case in
the past week.
Even though duck hunting is in full swing in the Park, there are places
where many can be seen without the risk of flushing them. The marsh
opposite the bird sightings board is a good place to observe dabbling
ducks, including a few Wood Ducks, American Wigeons, American Black
Ducks, and Northern Pintails, while the majority are Mallards and
Green-winged Teal. A pair of Ring-necked Ducks was there on October
11. Most diving ducks are far out in Popham Bay, where the majority are
Greater Scaup. Other species noted there include the
first-of-the-season Long-tailed Duck, Buffleheads, and a Ruddy Duck.
Buffleheads and Surf Scoters have also been in Presqu'ile Bay.
Double-crested Cormorants made a point of contradicting last week's
report of small numbers by gathering by the hundreds off the lighthouse
for a feeding frenzy the day after that report was distributed. A Great
Egret was still in the marsh on October 11.
Single Northern Goshawks were seen on three different days in the past
week, as well as both Sharp-shinned Hawk and Cooper's Hawk. A Merlin
was present on October 12. Two Ruffed Grouse were seen on one day. The
flock of American Coots off 38 Bayshore Road has grown to 22 birds.
Nine species of shorebirds were recorded in the past week, mostly along
the beach and on Gull Island, except for a Greater Yellowlegs at Salt
Point and three American Woodcocks on the access road to beach 3 at dusk
on October 10. Among others, there were Semipalmated Sandpipers,
White-rumped Sandpipers, and a Pectoral Sandpiper. This is the time of
year when one might expect a Red Phalarope to appear, a species that is
rare enough not to be found at Presqu'ile every year.
Three species of owls were found in the Park in the past week. A Great
Horned Owl was hooting on the evening of October 11 at the lighthouse, a
location where they are seldom seen. On the following morning a
Short-eared Owl was flushed on Gull Island. All day on October 16, a
Northern Saw-whet Owl sat quietly in a cedar near Paxton Drive,
continuing to eat a vole while having attention drawn to it by a group
of Black-capped Chickadees.
There was a report of two Red-headed Woodpeckers on October 13. A few
Blue-headed Vireos are still being seen. Two Common Ravens on October
11 and three Horned Larks on October 12 are the only sightings this fall
of those species. A Marsh Wren was also seen on the latter date. A
Gray Catbird visiting a bird bath at 83 Bayshore Road as recently as
October 16 is rather late. Warblers have mostly departed, though seven
species were found in the past week, including a few Orange-crowned
Warblers, a Nashville Warbler and an American Redstart on October 11,
Northern Parulas on October 10 and 15, a Pine Warbler on October 13,
and Palm Warblers on October 15 and 16.
A good variety of sparrows and their kin has been present all week,
including several Eastern Towhees, a Chipping Sparrow, a few Field
Sparrows, and a Savannah Sparrow. An Eastern Meadowlark was found on
October 11. A few Purple Finches and numerous Pine Siskins round out
the sightings of this week.
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. It should also be noted
that, because duck hunting is given priority on Mondays, Wednesdays,
Fridays, and Saturdays, Gull Island, High Bluff Island, Owen Point, and
part of the calf pasture are not available for bird-watching on those days.
Questions and comments about bird sightings at Presqu'ile may be
directed to: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
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Fred Helleiner
186 Bayshore Road,
Brighton, Ontario, Canada, K0K 1H0
VOICE: (613) 475 5309
If visiting, access via Presqu'ile Provincial Park.
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