HIGHLIGHTS: Northern Goshawk, Gyrfalcon

OVERVIEW: There is almost no coverage at Presqu’ile right now so there isn’t much to report.  That said, a very rare Gyrfalcon flew over the gate which automatically makes it a pretty good week!  Waterfowl are moving in and out of the Bay and Islands based on ice and hunting activity.  A significant flight of Sandhill Cranes passed to the north of the Park through the week but nine were seen within the Park.  Songbirds are pretty scarce away from bird feeders.  We will have a better sense of what is going on once the Christmas Bird Count is conducted on 19 Dec.

SIGHTINGS:

Tundra Swan: Five were over the gate on 27 Nov and 8 more were seen on 29 Nov.

Horned Grebe: Two were at the lighthouse on 26 Nov with one remaining to 2 Dec.

Double-crested Cormorant: One lingered at Salt Pt. until 26 Nov.

Northern Goshawk: The first of winter was a single seen on 29 Nov.

Belted Kingfisher: One was still present on 26 Nov.

Gyrfalcon: A grey morph bird was seen soaring east over the gate area on the leading edge of a cold front on 26 Nov.  It appeared to be on the move and has not been reported subsequently.

Fox Sparrow: One appeared at a feeder on 2 Dec.

Red-winged Blackbird:  Twenty flew into the marsh at dusk on 27 Nov.

Please Note: Presqu’ile Provincial Park permits waterfowl hunting from Saturday 25 September until Saturday 18 Dec on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.  Access to the marsh (other than the Marsh Boardwalk Trail), Calf Pasture Point, Gull Island and High Bluff Island is closed to all park users except registered hunters on those days.  Once blinds are placed on Owen Pt. on 15 November, the whole of the Point to the High Bluff Campground will also be closed.

Directions: Presqu’ile Provincial Park is located south of Brighton on the north shore of Lake Ontario.  It is well signed from either Hwy. 401 or Cty. Rd. 2.