The migrants northward fly their weary way, and leave the Park to
residents and to me. These words, adapted from Gray's /Elegy Written in
a Country Church-yard/, come to mind in the past week when birding in
Presqu'ile Provincial Park. There is a sense of loss that very few of
the migrants remain, but comfort that many birds are found day after day
in the same locations.
A rather late flock of about 35 BRANT flew past on June 8. Beside the
causeway just outside the Park gate, a female WOOD DUCK had seven tiny
young with her. A BLUE-WINGED TEAL was on the beach this morning. Four
LONG-TAILED DUCKS were still present on June 8. Two female COMMON
MERGANSERS and a male RED-BREASTED MERGANSER were seen this week.
COMMON LOONS continue to be seen on most days, both in the lake and
overhead. A PIED-BILLED GREBE nest can be seen off the campground
office, and a family of young ones was near there this week, possibly
from the same nest. A canoe-based search of the marsh yielded at least
three and possibly five LEAST BITTERNS.
An OSPREY was sitting in one of the shallow ephemeral pools of water on
the beach, pretending to be a shorebird. A female WILD TURKEY was at
the calf pasture on June 9. VIRGINIA RAILS have been seen a number of
times this spring in the marsh, but the one that was flushed into a tree
at Owen Point was exceptional in its odd behaviour. A SORA was observed
in the marsh on June 5. Shorebirds have thinned out almost completely.
Some of the remaining sightings are as follows: a SEMIPALMATED PLOVER
on June 11; 15 RUDDY TURNSTONES on June 7; a late LEAST SANDPIPER on
June 5; two WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPERS and a very late PECTORAL SANDPIPER
on June 7; a DUNLIN on June 11; three SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHERS on June 7.
A BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO was calling at the start of the Owen Point trail,
and a BARRED OWL was calling behind 83 Bayshore Road. On June 11, a
RED-HEADED WOODPECKER spent almost an hour commuting to and fro between
186 and 187 Bayshore Road, and a few hours later it (or another) was at
83 Bayshore Road. A RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER has paid periodic visits to
feeders along Bayshore Road. An ALDER FLYCATCHER was found on June 7.
A NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD was chased by a COMMON GRACKLE at the calf
pasture on June 5. The last of the transient warblers appear to have
been two BLACKPOLL WARBLERS on June 7. Mid-June is generally a static
time for birding at Presqu'ile, but a determined birder might manage to
track down a CLAY-COLORED SPARROW in the calf pasture, where they have
been seen in recent summer months. There are two pairs of ORCHARD
ORIOLES near the lighthouse, at least one of which has a nest. The
HOUSE SPARROWS in that area have fledged young in recent days.
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.
Questions and comments about bird sightings at Presqu'ile may be
directed to: fhellei...@trentu.ca.
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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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