[Ontbirds]Presqu'ile Birding Report for Week Ending April 10, 2008.

[Fred Helleiner]

At least twenty new species, mostly songbirds, returned to Presqu'ile 
Provincial Park since the latest weekly report was posted a week ago.  
One observer who spends part of each day birding in the Park saw six 
species new to him on April 9, a very good birding day here.

April 6 saw another good flight of Canada Geese, among which were two or 
three Cackling Geese.  Two unmarked Trumpeter Swans were close to shore 
in Presqu'ile Bay on April 8, and a Tundra Swan was present on April 6.  
Ducks have begun to move on, but dabbling ducks have been along the 
shore near Owen Point, including a pair of Northern Shovelers.  There 
are fewer Gadwalls than there have been for several recent weeks.  The 
Eurasian Wigeons reported last week have not been seen for a week.  
Green-winged Teals are the most numerous dabbling ducks these days.  A 
decrease in the number of Canvasbacks, Redheads, and Common Goldeneyes 
has been accompanied by an increase in Ring-necked Ducks, over 100 of 
which have been seen at one time.  There were three Ruddy Ducks at Salt 
Point on April 5.

Although only one Red-throated Loon was sighted in Popham Bay this week, 
it is likely that more will soon be gathering there.  Likewise, the 
spring flight of Common Loons that takes place in the early mornings 
should be taking place very soon.  In the meantime, individuals of that 
species can be found in the waters around the peninsula, as can Horned 
Grebes.  A single Red-necked Grebe was in Presqu'ile Bay today.  One 
each of Great Egret (April 7) and Black-crowned Night-Heron (April 5) 
was observed in the past week, but more should soon be arriving, along 
with American Bitterns.

Single Ospreys were seen in different parts of the Park on April 6 and 
single Merlins on several days.  The first Ruffed Grouse were heard 
drumming on April 6.  A Wilson's Snipe was seen on April 5, and American 
Woodcocks have been seen and heard on several occasions.  Bonaparte's 
Gulls and Caspian Terns first appeared on April 6 and are now being seen 
regularly.  Little Gulls sometimes pass through Presqu'ile in the latter 
half of April.  A Glaucous Gull on the beach on  April 6 was a late 
surprise.

A Common Raven flew over on April 10.  April is also the month when most 
of the few spring records of Tufted Titmouse at Presqu'ile have been 
recorded.  Two Carolina Wrens have been vocal in the east end of the 
peninsula.  An early Ruby-crowned Kinglet was at 38 Bayshore Road on 
April 9, the same day as the first Hermit Thrush sighting (in the High 
Bluff campground).  It seems likely that the first warbler will appear 
in the next week, but whether it will be a Yellow-rumped Warbler or a 
Pine Warbler remains to be seen.  The big influx of sparrows has barely 
begun, with sightings of Field Sparrows, a Savannah Sparrow, Fox 
Sparrows, a Swamp Sparrow, and Eastern Towhees.  Only one Rusty 
Blackbird has been found (at the lighthouse on April 9).  The first 
Purple Finch of the spring was patronizing the feeders at 83 Bayshore 
Road on April 10.  A few Common Redpolls are still coming there too.

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 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.