Presqu’ile Bird Report for the Week of 7-13 Dec 2018
By Doug McRae
HIGHLIGHTS: DUNLIN, GLAUCOUS GULL, RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET, EASTERN BLUEBIRD,
BROWN THRASHER, CHIPPING SPARROW, WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW
It was another quiet week with limited coverage but a few unusual things were
noted.
In spite of the marsh being frozen, large numbers of CANADA GEESE have been
seen including 500 on the ice on 11 Dec. Small numbers of MALLARDS, AMERICAN
BLACK DUCK and REDHEADS are still in the outer part of Presqu’ile Bay. A
MOURNING DOVE coming to the Birdhouse Nature Store feeders, just outside the
gate, on 9 Dec had significant pale fringes on the coverts indicating it had
fledged fairly recently. The lingering DUNLIN was seen at Owen Pt on 9 Dec. At
least two different Glaucous Gulls were seen on 11 and 12 Dec.
Raptors included a COOPER’S HAWK on 11 Dec, two BALD EAGLE on 9 Dec and at
least one on 12 Dec, and a RED-TAILED HAWK on 9 Dec. BARRED OWLS have been more
noticeable of late, likely due to an influx of “migrant” birds. For the second
week no SNOWY OWLS were reported. A MERLIN was noted on 12 Dec. NORTHERN
SHRIKES showed well with two on 11 Dec, and singles on 12 Dec and 13 Dec.
HORNED LARKS were heard flying over the gate area on 9 and 10 Dec. A
RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET seen in the Fingers on 8 Dec is quite rare this late in
fall. Two EASTERN BLUEBIRDS were seen just NW of the park along Huff Rd at the
Railway tracks on 8 Dec. AMERICAN ROBINS were noticeable in the Calf Pasture
all week with a maximum count of 45 on 12 Dec. The lingering BROWN THRASHER
coming to a Bayshore Rd feeder has now made it to “Count Period” for the
Christmas Count this Sunday.
Winter finches that were so prominent a month ago appear to have all but bailed
from the Park leaving only small numbers of AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES reported this
week. Interestingly a flock of 40 PINE SISKINS were still at a feeder in
Brighton on 13 Dec. Three SNOW BUNTINGS were seen on 11 Dec – another species
that is unusually scarce this winter.
A rare winter CHIPPING SPARROW was seen at the Birdhouse Nature Store feeders
on 9-11 Dec and a WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW was a surprise at a Bayshore Rd feeder
on 11-12 Dec. A lone male RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD is visiting the Birdhouse
Nature Store feeders regularly as is a COMMON GRACKLE along Bayshore Rd near
the lighthouse.
Note that fall waterfowl hunting in now occurring in the Park which means park
users cannot go to Owen Pt., the islands, the marsh (boardwalk is open), or
Calf Pasture Pt. on Saturdays, Mondays, Wednesdays or Fridays even if no one is
hunting on those days. This restriction will last until mid December so plan
your trip accordingly.
Directions: Presqu’ile Provincial Park is located on the north shore of Lake
Ontario, just south of the town of Brighton. It can be reached from either
Hwy. 401, or Cty. Rd. 2 and is well signed. A Park map can be found in the
information tabloid available at the Park gate. Presqu’ile’s two offshore
islands – Gull and High Bluff – support a large multi-species colonial bird
nesting area and access is not permitted during the breeding season (10
March-10 September).
Doug McRae
P.O. Box 3010
Brighton, Ontario
K0K 1H0
613-475-5014 H
613-243-4161 C
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