Overview: There was not a lot of coverage this week so the report is a little sparse. Most days were generally quiet and the diversity of shorebirds and warblers dropped overall. The crossing to Gull Island continues to get easier as the water level drops and could probably be done successfully in tall rubber boots on a glass calm day.
Highlights:
CACKLING GOOSE – 5 birds were photographed on the beach on 18 Oct.
GADWALL – 107 seen on 18 Oct is a very large number for this area.
CANVASBACK – a female was seen on 16 Oct.
BUFFLEHEAD – 2 on 18 Oct were the first of fall.
LONG-TAILED DUCK – 2 on 18 Oct. were the first of fall.
BLACK SCOTER – 2 were off Salt Pt. on 21-22 Oct.
RED-THROATED LOON – 1 was off Gull Is. on 20 Oct.
GREAT EGRET – the most recent sighting was 1 on 18 Oct.
AMERICAN COOT – 2 were in the Park marsh as viewed from the Harbour St. Parkette on 21 Oct.
SEMIPLAMATED PLOVER – 1 on 18 Oct and a group of 13 on 20 Oct were the only reports.
RUDDY TURNSTONE – 2 on 18 Oct was the last report.
SANDERLING – 32 on 18 Oct was the last report.
DUNLIN – 37 on 18 Oct and 25 on 20 Oct were the only reports.
PECTORAL SANDPIPER – 1 was on Sebastopol Is. (the rock north of Gull Is.) on 20 Oct.
SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER – 1 on 18 Oct may turn out to be the last of the year.
AMERICAN WOODCOCK – 2 flushed from a path on 20 Oct remind us this cryptic species is still present.
LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL – an adult was on Owen Pt. briefly on 20 Oct.
PEREGRINE FALCON – an adult was on Sebastopol on 8 Oct.
BLUE-HEADED VIREO – singles on 18 Oct, 19 Oct, and 20 Oct may be the last of the year.
HORNED LARK – Gull Is. produced 2 on 18 Oct (RDM) and 1 on 20 Oct.
RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET – present throughout the week with a high count of 48 on 19 Oct.
ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER – 1 on 20 Oct was the only report.
NASHVILLE WARBLER – 1 on 21 Oct was the only report.
NORTHERN PARULA – 1 on 18 Oct, 3 on 20 Oct, 1 on 21 Oct.
BLACKPOLL WARBLER – a bird lingered at the Lighthouse from 19-21 Oct.
YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER – present throughout the week.
BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER – 1 on 20 Oct is likely the last of the year.
DARK-EYED JUNCO – a big flight of 350 was noted on 21 Oct.
Directioins: Presqu’ile Provincial Park is located south of Brighton on the north shore of Lake Ontario. It is well signed from either Hwy. 401 or Cty. Rd. 2.
Birders should be aware that duck hunting is permitted in the Park on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays and access restrictions are in place on hunting days. This means that the islands, marsh, and Calf Pasture Point are off limits. Owen Pt. is open for now but will be closed once a blind is placed there. Closed areas are well signed.
