[Ontbirds]Four Purple's on Gull Island, Presqu'ile

[Doug McRae]

Greetings all,

I went out to Gull Island today (2 Dec.) to check for shorebirds and  
managed to find four Purple Sandpipers on the limestone flats on the  
south-east corner.  A bunch of thin floating ice had jammed the  
channel to Sebastopol Pt. so I didn't risk the crossing and therefore  
don't know if the Dunlin or turnstone that have been hanging around  
were out there.  It was very windy with fine blowing ice pellets  
making viewing difficult.  Other than the expected ducks and a few  
Herring Gulls, the only other birds seen on the island was a  flock  
of 20 Snow Buntings.  Elsewhere in Presqu'ile, there was a Rusty  
Blackbird and five Grackles at 83 Bayshore Rd. and a flock of 10 Pine  
Grosbeaks feeding on miniature crab apples opposite the Government Dock.

Cheers,

Doug McRae

Doug McRae Nature Services
P.O. Box 3010
Brighton, Ontario
Canada K0K 1H0
613-475-5014
rdmcrae at sympatico.ca

Directions:  Presqu'ile is easily reached by taking the Brighton exit  
off Hwy. 401, then following the signs through town and to the Park.   
Note that access to Owen Pt. and the islands is permitted on non- 
hunting days only (Tues., Thur., Sun).