Presqu’ile Bird Report for 21-27 June 2019
HIGHLIGHTS: RED-THROATED LOON, PIPING PLOVER, RED-NECKED PHALAROPE, NORTHERN PARULA
We are in the heart of nesting season so most birds are keeping busy feeding young and trying to do it inconspicuously. Birders on the other hand were in short supply so this is a brief report.
A pair of BLUE-WINGED TEAL flew up the creek along the causeway on 23 Jun. Across Presqu’ile Bay from the Park, at the Nature Conservancy’s recently acquired Brighton Wetland property, there was a single male REDHEAD and RING-NECKED DUCK on 26 Jun. A male COMMON MERGANSER lingered by Owen Pt. on 22 Jun. A RED-THROATED LOON flying over the lighthouse on 23 Jun was a treat for the OFO bird song workshop. During this period of high water GREAT EGRETS have started feeding from seawalls along Bayshore Rd because they can now reach fish from them.
A SHARP-SHINNED HAWK flew over the gate on 22 Jun. I don’t have specific details but Park staff reported that a PIPING PLOVER was seen somewhere on the beach on 27 Jun. The most unusual bird of the week was a male RED-NECKED PHALAROPE that was photographed at the Brighton Constructed Wetland on 21 Jun. It’s anyone’s guess if this is a late spring migrant or a failed breeder heading south or just a bird roaming but the date is very odd. Sadly it did not stay. Six BONAPARTE’S GULLS were off the Lighthouse on 24 Jun, and a single was at the Gosport Dock, just outside the Park on 26 Jun.
RED-HEADED WOODPECKERS continue to be seen in the woods and at some feeders on Bayshore Rd. The one that was at the Birdhouse Nature Store feeder last week was seen again on 21 Jun. Apparently migrating BLUE JAYS were seen flying east off the Lighthouse with three on 21 Jun and 15 on 23 Jun. Lastly a singing NORTHERN PARULA on 22 Jun was a surprise.
Needless to say we local birders would love to hear promptly of any rarities that visitors find so if you see something rare, please feel free to call or text my cell (613-243-4161) or Bill Gilmour’s cell (613-475-4219) and we will get the word out to the local birding community. Thanks.
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).
