Back to News
Birding Report
At a time of year when other birding areas nearby yield only a limited variety of species, Presqu'ile Provincial Park offers opportunities to sample woodland birds, marsh birds, open country birds, and those associated with beaches and open water. A day's birding visiting each of those habitats can be quite profitable, even in the mid-summer hiatus between spring and fall migration.
 
In addition to the regular MALLARDS and GADWALLS around the shores of Popham Bay, this week there was an AMERICAN WIGEON on Gull Island on June 23 and GREEN-WINGED TEALS on the beach (three on June 22 and six on June 23).
 
In the open water of that bay there was a SCAUP on June 23, a female COMMON GOLDENEYE on June 22, and a female COMMON MERGANSER on both days. COMMON LOONS were present in both Popham Bay and Presqu'ile Bay, where they bred for the past two summers.

An OSPREY was at the calf pasture, and a SHARP-SHINNED HAWK was in the lighthouse area. On June 22, four non-resident shorebirds were on the beach: two SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS, a WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER, and a DUNLIN. Before long, one can expect a LEAST SANDPIPER or a LESSER YELLOWLEGS to appear there. A BONAPARTE'S GULL was also there on two of the last four days.

Surprisingly, two BLUE JAYS flew over the lighthouse as if in migration on June 24 and another on June 25, both in the early morning when such movements normally occur in season. A WOOD THRUSH has been singing regularly behind 85 Bayshore Road. ORCHARD ORIOLES exhibiting various plumages remain active and vocal in the general area of the lighthouse, and frequently in the spruce tree at 186 Bayshore Road. A PURPLE FINCH, not the first in recent weeks, was singing persistently in the High Bluff campground on June 22.

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@TRENTU.CA