HIGHLIGHTS: EASTERN BLUEBIRD, BROWN THRASHER

It was a very quiet week with almost no coverage so this is a skimpy report.

Waterfowl seemed static with pretty much the “usual suspects” about.  The only new arrival was a single AMERICAN BLACK DUCK on 15 Feb.  Two MUTE SWANS were flying together circling interior marsh areas in what looked like a “prospecting” flight on 15 Feb. The Government Dock on Bayshore Rd and Calf Pasture Point remain the best areas for viewing waterfowl.

A few BALD EAGLES seem to be frequenting the ice edge in Presqu’ile Bay.  Gulls have been sitting far out in the Bay making identification difficult but worth scrutiny since both ICELAND and GLAUCOUS have been seen flying out of the Brighton Dump to the north.  BARRED OWLS were reported frequently at various sites with as many as 3 on 16 Feb.

A NORTHERN SHRIKE seen at the Beach 2 entrance road on 17 Feb might be a returning migrant since none have been seen near this site for many weeks. A BROWN CREEPER seen near the Lighthouse on 17 Feb was also in a site where none have been lately.  The six EASTERN BLUEBIRDS that turned up at the Birdhouse Nature Store just outside the gate on 14 Feb stayed at least until 18 Feb feeding on roadside buckthorn berries.

AMERICAN ROBINS continue to be seen at various areas in the park but most often near the Calf Pasture field where a high of 30 was noted on 17 Feb.  The long-staying BROWN THRASHER continues at a Bayshore Rd feeder. Finally, a group of 7 PINE GROSBEAKS was seen near Calf Pasture on 18 Feb.

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).