Presqu’ile Bird Report for Week of 28 Sep - 4 Oct 2018
There hasn’t been much birding coverage at Presqu’ile this week so the report is a little sparse. Hopefully the holiday weekend will bring some birders to the area to bulk up the sightings.
Waterfowl remain well represented with most expected species being present. 19 GADWALL around Gull Is. on 2 Oct was a good count. Also there were two COMMON GOLDENEYE, 2 WHITE-WINGED SCOTER, 11 COMMON and 125 RED-BREASTED MERGANSER. The first RING-NECKED DUCKS were reported on 1 Oct when two were seen. At the Lighthouse two SURF SCOTERS were seen on 30 Sep and five on 3 Oct, and eight BLACK SCOTER were seen there on 28 Sep.
Single RED-NECKED GREBES were seen at Calf Pasture on 1 and 4 Oct and a dead one was washed up on Gull Is. on 2 Oct. An OSPREY flew past the gate on 4 Oct. Two COMMON GALLINULE were still in the marsh on 1 Oct. Shorebirds are still around, but mostly on Gull Is. A LEAST SANDPIPER was there on 30 Sep. On 2 Oct species seen there included 7 BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER, 1 SEMIPALMATED PLOVER, 5 RUDDY TURNSTONE, 1 SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER, 20 SANDERLING and 15 DUNLIN. Three GREATER YELLOWLEGS were in the marsh on 1 Oct.
Migrant YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKERS and NORTHERN FLICKER remain conspicuous on most days. Two PEREGRINE FALCONS were seen on 2 Oct – one at the gate and the other around Gull Is. MERLINS remain a daily terror, especially around the beach and islands. EASTERN PHOEBE was the only flycatcher reported this week, but was common. A CAROLINA WREN was noted near the Lighthouse on 29 Sep (BG), 1 and 3 Oct and a HOUSE WREN was reported on 4 Oct. MARSH WRENS are still present in their cattail marsh breeding sites but migrants are also about, such as the one on Gull Is. on 2 Oct. Three AMERICAN PIPITS were on Gull Is. on 30 Sep.
Warblers continue to move through but diversity is starting to fall off. A single TENNEESEE WARBLER on 2 Oct, a BLACKPOLL on 30 Sep, a CHESTNUT-SIDED on 2 Oct and an AMERICAN REDSTART on 29 Sep might be the last for fall. ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS were seen on the 29th and 30th.
Large flocks of RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS and COMMON GRACKLES are going to roost each evening in the marsh but no unusual species have been reported among them. A few PINE SISKINS and PURPLE FINCHES have been seen throughout the week as well.
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.
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.
