Presqu’ile Bird Report for 27 Aug-2 Sep 2021
HIGHLIGHTS: Red-necked Grebe, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Gray-cheeked Thrush, American Pipit.
OVERVIEW: Migration is in full swing and, depending on weather systems, large numbers of warblers and other migrants can be seen. A general theme seems to be that many species across different groups – waterfowl, songbirds - are arriving unusually early. The access restrictions (designed to protect colonial birds that nest there) to Gull and High Bluff end on Saturday, 11 Sep. Wading to Gull is usually easy, High Bluff is typically only accessible by boat. I will report next week on water
September 11, 2021 - Doug McRae
Presqu'ile Bird Report 13-26 Aug 2021
HIGHLIGHTS: Whimbrel, Stilt Sandpiper, Sedge Wren
OVERVIEW: Despite oppressive tropical heat making fall seem like a far away concept, birds are right on cue with lots of migrants streaming through the park. The waterfowl flock around Gull Is. is both building in numbers and species diversity and is best viewed with a scope from Owen Pt. early, while the sun is behind you and the lake hasn’t become rough. Shorebirds have started to arrive in moderate numbers as well but unfortunately, the vast majority is foraging along the north shore of Gull Is. making viewing from Owen Pt.
August 29, 2021 - Doug McRae
Presqu'ile Bird report for 6-12 August
HIGHLIGHTS: Peregrine Falcon, Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Fall migration is well underway with a number of warblers starting to appear and lots of blackbirds gathering in the marsh to roost. In an unusual pattern, the water level in Lake Ontario has actually been going up for then past month and has swamped some of the mudflat habitat available to shorebirds but birds are still coming through – just harder to see being partly hidden in shoreline vegetation. This week marked the first juvenile shorebird (Lesser Yellowlegs) arriving from the north.
SIGHTINGS:
American Wigeon: One
August 15, 2021 - Doug McRae
Presqu’ile Bird Report for 30 Jul-5 Aug 2021
HIGHLIGHTS: Red-headed Woodpecker, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
OVERVIEW: We had our worst week for coverage yet with only a few visits to the Park by birders.
SIGHTINGS:
American Bittern: Singles were seen at the Camp Office Viewing Platform on 2 Aug and 5 Aug.
Bald Eagle: Two flew past the lighthouse on 5 Aug – the first in recent weeks.
Bonaparte’s Gull: Two were at Salt Pt. on 1 Aug.
Red-headed Woodpecker: The known family group with two young was visiting Bayshore Rd feeders, but a single immature was also seen in the Campgrounds on 2 Aug (C&MY) suggesting
August 6, 2021 - Doug McRae
Presqu'ile Bird Report for 23-29 July 2021
HIGHLIGHTS: Redhead, Black-bellied Plover, Semipalmated Plover, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Northern Parula
OVERVIEW: There is still very little birding coverage at Presqu’ile so the report is once again, a bit thin. More southbound migrant shorebirds are arriving and several songbirds were seen in areas they didn’t breed at suggesting they too are migrating. This trend will pick up substantially over the next few weeks.
SIGHTINGS:
American Black Duck: One was with the Gull Is. mixed duck flock on 27 Jul.
Green-winged Teal: At least three were
July 30, 2021 - Doug McRae
Presqu’ile Bird Report for 16-22 Jul 2021
HIGHLIGHTS: Baird’s Sandpiper, Red-headed Woodpecker, Northern Parula
OVERVIEW: Fall migration is picking up with a few more shorebirds and the first migrating Bobolinks reported this week. Most nesting birds are busy feeding fledged young now swelling the population making for some productive birding.
SIGHTINGS:
Mute Swan: Numbers of this damaging non-native species continue to swell with 300 in a small part of Presqu’ile Bay on 18 Jul.
Hooded Merganser: The young bird that has been hanging around Gull Is./Owen Pt. was seen again on 21 Jul, then flew off to the
July 22, 2021 - Doug McRae
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