The outlook for this weekend's Waterfowl Festival at Presqu'ile
Provincial Park looks very promising, in terms of the weather forecast,
the ice conditions in Presqu'ile Bay, and, most importantly, the
thousands of ducks and other water birds that are now in the bay. In
addition, there is a multitude of spring birds to replace the
disappearing winter birds, and more are arriving every day.
Thousands of CANADA GEESE have been moving over the Park in the past few
days, and it seems like just a matter of time before someone scanning
those flocks notices one or more SNOW GEESE among them. Four TUNDRA
SWANS called noisily as they flew in on Monday morning, almost certainly
not the same birds that were wintering in the bay. Among the ducks seen
in recent days were several WOOD DUCKS, the first EURASIAN WIGEON of the
season (at dusk this evening at the tip of Salt Point - the same date as
the first of that species last year), several NORTHERN PINTAILS, a
GREEN-WINGED TEAL, lots of CANVASBACKS, REDHEADS, and RING-NECKED DUCKS
(among which optimistic birders are forever hoping to find a TUFTED
DUCK), a few WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS, and a male BARROW'S GOLDENEYE at the
lighthouse. The latter bird, likely the same one that wintered there,
had disappeared for four days but was found again on three consecutive
days, most recently on March 14. Also of interest in Presqu'ile Bay are
PIED-BILLED and HORNED GREBES and an early DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT on
March 15.
A TURKEY VULTURE flew over on March 12, apparently the earliest arrival
date on record for that species at Presqu'ile. The most recent BALD
EAGLE sighting was on March 12. Other spring birds in recent days
include numerous AMERICAN COOTS, KILLDEERS, a WILSON'S SNIPE just
outside the Park, and AMERICAN WOODCOCKS. Both ICELAND and GLAUCOUS
GULLS were seen this week. If this report is a little later in being
sent out this evening, it is because the writer was called away from his
computer to hear a NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL calling at the entrance to the
"fingers". Stopping shortly afterwards (by this time almost nine
o'clock but under a nearly full moon) near the bird sightings board to
listen for a BARRED OWL that the original observer had also heard, the
writer heard a second NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL. Anyone coming to the
waterfowl festival might stand a good chance of hearing both of those
species in the evening or before dawn, given that the moon will still be
nearly full.
A RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER at the bird sightings board feeder, a BOREAL
CHICKADEE near the government dock, a CAROLINA WREN seen twice briefly
at 186 Bayshore Road and again this afternoon at 83 Bayshore Road, a
flock of BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS on March 12, and the WHITE-THROATED and
WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS at 83 Bayshore Road must be thought of as
remnants of the winter bird life. Four EASTERN MEADOWLARKS on March 14,
while not quite a record, were still early. A possible TREE SWALLOW,
had it been seen more than very briefly, would also be very early. A
few COMMON REDPOLLS are still lingering in 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 at this time of year to prevent disturbance to the colonial
nesting birds there. Birders are encouraged to record their
observations on the bird sightings board provided near the campground
office by The Friends of Presqu'ile Park and to fill out a rare bird
report for species not listed there.
Questions and comments about bird sightings at Presqu'ile may be
directed to: fhellei...@trentu.ca.
--
Fred Helleiner
186 Bayshore Road,
Brighton, Ontario, Canada, K0K 1H0
VOICE: (613) 475 5309
If visiting, access via Presqu'ile Provincial Park.
_______________________________________________
ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial
birding organization.
Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca
For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
