[Ontbirds]Harlequin, Barrow's Goldeneye at Presqu'ile

[Doug McRae]

Hello Ontbirders,

I did the Presqu'ile section of the mid-winter waterfowl survey today  
and had some interesting birds.  I recorded 6943 individuals  
representing 18 spp. of waterfowl between the Barcovan channel  
(joining the west end of Weller's Bay with Lake Ontario) and Wicklow  
Boat launch.

The best finds were already known birds - a male Barrow's Goldeneye  
off the Presqu'ile lighthouse, and a female Harlequin Duck in the  
channel between Gull and High Bluff Island.  Also notable was an Am.  
Coot off the Government Dock on Bayshore Rd., Presqu'ile, along with  
two Lesser Scaup there and 6 more off Gull Is.  There was a new  
record high for  Mute Swans (464), all but about 50 in Presqu'ile  
Bay.  Mixed in were 8 Tundra and one Trumpeter.  Other interesting  
sightings included an imm. Bald Eagle in Presqu'ile Bay, 3 Glaucous  
and 2 Iceland Gull on Gull Is., and two Eastern Bluebirds on Barnes  
Rd., between the two sets of railway tracks.  Barnes Rd. is about 6  
km west of Brighton and runs south from Hwy. 2 to Lake Ontario.

Cheers,

Doug McRae


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