Hi
I walked to Gull Is today to determine conditions. As usual access is by foot is via Owen Pt. and requires an open water wade of about 200 metres. For about half that distance the water is about 3 feet (90cm) deep. After that you reach a long narrow gravel bar for about 250m to reach the island proper. This bar is less than a metre wide for much of its length and could be breached with big waves at any time though I suspect any water gap would remain fairly shallow. The island itself, particularly the east end, has been reshaped by this year's high water. The east end is mostly a large gravel berm now. Behind the berm the pond is quite full. It actually looks too deep for shorebirds except at the west end where it is fairly muddy. No shorebirds were noted in here today. The north shore of the island has its usual fringe of algae-covered rocks, though not as extensive as in some years. It was this along this shoreline and the gravel bar that all shorebirds were seen today, though there were not many today. Birds noted: Stilt Sandpiper (1) (looked like the same bird from the beach yesterday) Dunlin (1) Baird's Sandpiper (1) Black-bellied Plover (1) Semipalmated Plover (5) Sanderling (12) Bald Eagle and Peregrine Lots of ducks the most unusual of which was a female Bufflehead As always be cautious walking to Gull is. Remember you are on your own out there, the park does not regularly patrol this area and cell reception is unreliable. Going with someone else is recommended. It is not recommended to make a crossing if waves are high. Swells and seiche events can make the water deeper at any time. There can be a considerable current going either direction in this gap and conditions can change quite quickly. You can easily find the water a foot deeper going back than what you encountered going. Footing is all lose gravel and cobbles on the crossing and depending on water turbidity you may not be able to see the bottom. Staring at your feet with waves moving back and forth can also cause dizziness. Cell reception may be nil out there. Enjoy your visit. David David Bree Sr. Discovery Leader - Ontario Parks 328 Presqu'ile Parkway, Brighton, Ontario, K0K 1L0 P: 613-475-4324 x225 W: OntarioParks.com [cid:image001.png@01D48D68.25BCEA80] Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks Please note: As part of providing accessible customer service<https://www.ontario.ca/page/accessible-customer-service-policy>, please let me know if you have any accommodation needs or require communication supports or alternate formats. _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists (OFO) - 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 Visit the OFO Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/OntarioFieldOrnithologists
