[Ontbirds] Presqu'ile Birding Report for Week Ending February 28, 2008.

[Fred Helleiner]

Given that February is usually the slowest month of the year for 
birding, it is not surprising that there are relatively few sightings at 
Presqu'ile Provincial Park in the past week that are worth reporting, 
though some of them would certainly generate the twitching which 
characterizes hard-core birders, a.k.a. "twitchers".

Canada Geese have taken to grazing on the wind-swept offshore islands, 
where more bare ground is exposed than elsewhere in the Park.  At about 
150, the number of Mute Swans at Presqu'ile is down from what it was in 
recent winters. For the first time this winter, an entire week has 
passed without any reports of Tundra Swans.  This week there have been 
as many as 50 Canvasbacks and several hundred Redheads in Presqu'ile 
Bay, precursors to the waterfowl viewing weekends on March 8-9 and 
15-16.  When the bay freezes over, as it has done on several of the past 
few nights, the birds fly out to the open lake, only to return as soon 
as the wind creates leads of open water.  There have been only three 
days this month with no White-winged Scoter sightings.  The most 
reliable location is just to the east of Salt Point.  The male Barrow's 
Goldeneye near the lighthouse added itself to another birder's life list 
this week, but has not been seen for the past two days.  Last year it 
remained until March 15 (assuming it was the same bird).

All one morning, an adult Bald Eagle sat near the top of one of the tall 
trees on High Bluff Island.  It was not there on the following morning.  
One has to have a good imagination or a great deal of optimism to look 
for American Woodcocks under the present conditions at Presqu'ile, but 
it is worth noting that the first migrant of that species showed up in 
the Park before the end of February a few years ago, February 26, to be 
exact.  This week there has been a sudden influx of Ring-billed Gulls, 
with several hundred milling noisily around and on Gull Island last 
Sunday.  Both Iceland Gull and Glaucous Gull have appeared in Presqu'ile 
Bay this week.  An owl observed closely by two couples along the road 
into the Park last Saturday was identified as a Great Gray Owl.  Two of 
those who saw the bird, not birders but good observers, gave a fairly 
good description of it.  Not to be forgotten, at the other end of the 
size range, is the fact that a Saw-whet Owl, apparently a migrant, was 
seen at the calf pasture on this date two years ago.

Both of the Carolina Wrens that have been spending the winter along 
Bayshore Road were singing on consecutive mornings earlier in the past 
week.  While showing no signs of the event, one of them yesterday 
celebrated the semi-anniversary of its discovery at Presqu'ile on August 
27.  Five Snow Buntings were at Owen Point on Sunday.  Common Redpolls 
are daily visitors to the feeders at 186 Bayshore Road.

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. Gull Island is no longer an island, 
the connection to the mainland having been established several months ago.

Questions and comments about bird sightings at Presqu'ile may be 
directed to: FHELLEINER at TRENTU.CA.

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Fred Helleiner

186 Bayshore Road,
Brighton, Ontario, Canada, K0K 1H0
VOICE: (613) 475 5309
If visiting, access via Presqu'ile Provincial Park.