Presqu’ile Birding report from 7th to 13th September 2018

 

HIGHLIGHTS: RED-NECKED GREBE, BROAD-WINGED HAWK, GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSH, ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER

 

Birding this week has been quite good with lots of action on the weekend. A bonus for those that work and those who attended the always popular OFO Walk at Presqu’ile.

 

There were a total of 14 species of waterfowl spotted in the Park the past week most being seen near Gull Island. It is important to note the annual waterfowl hunt begins Saturday September 22nd and access to Gull Island will be restricted on Monday,Wednesday,Friday and Saturday.

 

RUFFED GROUSE and WILD TURKEYS were sighted in numerous locations this week and a single RED-NECKED GREBE and a couple of HORNED GREBES were seen rafting in Popham Bay. These numbers will increase in the coming weeks with good views to be had from Gull Island.

 

A SORA RAIL was reported from Marsh Boardwalk and Common Gallinules have been seen regularly in the same location.

 

13 species of SHOREBIRDS were reported in the Park this week. BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER, AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER, SEMIPALMATED PLOVER AND KILLDEER. A single RUDDY TURNSTONE, SANDERLING,LEAST, SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER and a WILSON’S SNIPE seen from causeway just outside Park. AMERICAN WOODCOCK, SPOTTED SANDPIPER and both GREATER and LESSER YELLOWLEGS. Most of these SHOREBIRDS are viewed from Owen Pt. No BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPERS have been reported yet but that might change soon now that access to Gull Island is permitted.

 

There was a good flight of RAPTORS on Sept 8th. TURKEY VULTURES, OSPREY, BALD EAGLES, NORTHERN HARRIER, SHARP-SHINNED and COOPERS HAWKS, the first kettle of 12 BROAD-WINGS moving west on the Northeast winds and RED-TAILED HAWKS. Three species of FALCONS were also spotted AMERICAN KESTREL, MERLINS and PEREGRINES.

 

FLYCATCHERS were well represented with a total of 6 species the best of which was a getting late OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER on Sept 8th. THE first wave of BLUE-HEADED VIREOS head the list of VIREOS being seen with PHILADELPHIA VEREO, dwindling numbers of WARBLING and still numerous RED-EYED VIREOS. A group of 8 TREE SWALLOWS flew over 83 Bayshore on Sept 11th.The pair of CAROLINA WRENS have become a fixture at the Lighthouse with one of this pair or perhaps a third bird made it as far as 83 Bayshore on Sept 11th as well.

 

VEERY, the first GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSH reported this fall today, SWAINSON’S many and AMERICAN ROBINS round out the THRUSHES. HOUSE FINCHES, a fair number of PURPLE FINCHES, a single PINE SISKIN making the rounds of feeders in residential area and good numbers of AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES.

 

The Presqu’ile OFO trip produced 16 of the 21species of WARBLERS found in the Park this week. Numbers of WARBLERS have been good all week with the best spot being the Lighthouse area early morning as things get pretty quiet mid-day. NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH, BLACK-AND-WHITE, TENNESSEE, an early ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER found by an excellent birder was the first of the fall in Park, NASHVILLE, COMMON YELLOWTHROAT, AMERICAN REDSTART, CAPE MAY, good numbers of both NORTHERN PARULA and MAGNOLIAS, BAY-BREASTED, BLACKBURNIAN, a late YELLOW WARBLER at Owen Pt, CHESTNUT-SIDED, the first wave of BLACKPOLL and PALM WARBLERS, PINE, many YELLOW-RUMPED, BLACK-THROATED GREEN, CANADA and WILSON’S WARBLERS.

 

BALTIMORE ORIOLE is becoming hard to find with the last reported from 83 Bayshore on Sept 11th.

 

Thanks to all who reported birds the last couple of month’s making my job easier to do. I will as I’m sure you will be as well extremely happy to turn this report over to its rightful owner! 

 

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.