POSTED | July 1, 2004 - Fred Helleiner
Birding Report
The past week has been a typical summer week at Presqu'ile Provincial Park as far as birding is concerned. That is to say that few new sightings have been reported, while the diversity of bird life continues to make the Park worth a visit.
Both a Great Egret and a Black-crowned Night-Heron were observed perched in trees near their nesting sites on High Bluff and Sebastopol Islands, respectively.
The Trumpeter Swan erroneously identified as a Tundra Swan and reported as such in last week's report was still present as recently as June 28 in the created wetland in the south-east corner of Brighton (outside the Park). Alongside the causeway leading to Presqu'ile, a family of Wood Ducks (five young) was seen on June 29. Three Green-winged Teal were at the beach on the same date. Also on June 29, a surprisingly late male Bufflehead was in the marsh.
What was probably the first fall migrant of the year appeared on the beach on June 29: a Semipalmated Sandpiper. Some early July dates for that species are mentioned in Birds of Presqu'ile Provincial Park as spring migrants. However, other returning shorebirds are being found elsewhere in eastern Ontario, and can also be expected at Presqu'ile at this time of year.
Summer is also the time of year when campers arrive in the Park and from time to time report hearing Barred Owls. This year it was a cottager who supplied the first such report of the season, at 3 a.m. on June 27, behind 83 Bayshore Road.
No unusual songbirds have been reported this week, but a Pine Siskin on June 19 was an interesting report from the previous week that came to light only recently.
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: FHELLEINER@TRENTU.CA.
Both a Great Egret and a Black-crowned Night-Heron were observed perched in trees near their nesting sites on High Bluff and Sebastopol Islands, respectively.
The Trumpeter Swan erroneously identified as a Tundra Swan and reported as such in last week's report was still present as recently as June 28 in the created wetland in the south-east corner of Brighton (outside the Park). Alongside the causeway leading to Presqu'ile, a family of Wood Ducks (five young) was seen on June 29. Three Green-winged Teal were at the beach on the same date. Also on June 29, a surprisingly late male Bufflehead was in the marsh.
What was probably the first fall migrant of the year appeared on the beach on June 29: a Semipalmated Sandpiper. Some early July dates for that species are mentioned in Birds of Presqu'ile Provincial Park as spring migrants. However, other returning shorebirds are being found elsewhere in eastern Ontario, and can also be expected at Presqu'ile at this time of year.
Summer is also the time of year when campers arrive in the Park and from time to time report hearing Barred Owls. This year it was a cottager who supplied the first such report of the season, at 3 a.m. on June 27, behind 83 Bayshore Road.
No unusual songbirds have been reported this week, but a Pine Siskin on June 19 was an interesting report from the previous week that came to light only recently.
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: FHELLEINER@TRENTU.CA.
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