While the first flush and excitement of waterfowl migration is well past, duck viewing, at least in this area, is really very good right now. Perhaps the best of the spring. My 1 hour search yesterday afternoon netted 19 species.
Ducks remain well off shore in Presqu'ile Park proper but very close looks of 100+ Ring-necked Ducks, Redheads, Lesser and Greater Scaup can easily be had at the Harbour Street boat launch, Brighton Marina and St Mary's Wetland at Gosport. Each location seems to have a different dominant species. A little looking yesterday also easily found good numbers of Bufflehead, Gadwall, and Mute Swan, and there were also from 1 to 6 of - Hooded Merganser, Common Merganser, Red-breasted Merganser, American Wigeon, Shoveler, Long-tailed Duck (more in the park), Ruddy Duck, and Canvasback. Also Horned and Red-necked Grebe Scanning the corn stubble fields along Cty Rd 64 heading to Carrying Place provided lots of Canada Geese, Mallards, Green-winged Teal and a few Pintail and a Wood Duck. I am sure a more complete survey inside the park and out over the open waters of the lake and other locations in this area would have picked up a few more species. With warmer weather in the forecast I am not sure how long this great diversity will last. To reach the boat launch, exit the 401 at Brighton (exit 509) and follow the signs south to Presqu'ile. At the end of Ontario Street instead of turning right over the causeway to the park (but please do visit sometime) go straight ahead into the boat launch area. Ring-necked Ducks are close and numerous. Come out of this parking area and turn right on Harbour Street, there are two public spots on the right hand side a few 100m down the road. A Parkette and then the marina. Redheads and a few Scaup are often very close at one of these locations. Keep going along harbour past the stop sign and turn right on Baldwin street toward Gosport. The second last street is Price Street. Turn left (east) and go to the end of the road for a good view of St Mary's Wetland. Scaup were present and close in the 100s here. All these spots have a selection of other species besides the dominants, though the latter had the best diversity. Return to Harbour Street turn right and go to the end. Turn right on Cty Rd 64. The Brighton Constructed Wetland is on this corner, a permit is required to enter it but you might see something without flushing the ducks from the road. Shoveler are often present. Continue along Cty Rd 64 checking the fields. The best one is about 4 km on the other side of the Murray Canal bridge. David Bree Sr. Natural Heritage Education Leader Presqu'ile Provincial Park 328 Presqu'ile Parkway Brighton, ON. K0K 1H0 613 475-4324 ext 225 david.b...@ontario.ca<mailto:david.b...@ontario.ca> _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca For information about ONTBIRDS including how to unsubscribe visit http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdssetup Posting guidelines can be found at http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdsguide
