Date: 02/22/2007

Number: 1

The spring bird migration is clearly under way at Presqu'ile
Provincial Park, with waterfowl being the major players up till now.
Among them have been two rare species, both of which have been present
for much of the winter.

There are hundreds of Mute Swans and at least three Tundra Swans in
Presqu'ile Bay. The discovery last weekend of a Greater White-fronted
Goose a few kilometres west of Presqu'ile should serve notice to
birders visiting the Park that that rarity may find its way to
Presqu'ile, where a few Canada Geese can usually be found. Thousands
of diving ducks have poured in during the past few days, almost all of
them Greater Scaup.
Apart from enjoying the spectacle of so many ducks, a keen and patient
observer can usually find a few Canvasbacks and s among them.
The background noise of hundreds of Long-tailed Ducks is music to the
ears of those who associate that clamour with spring. The three most
interesting species seen at Presqu'ile in the past few days, all in
the general lighthouse area, have been a female Harlequin Duck seen on
February 20 (perhaps the same bird that was frequenting the western
part of the Park earlier in the winter), White-winged Scoters (up to
three of which have been seen on six of the past seven days), and a
male Barrow's Goldeneye (which has been present for a full month and
finally, on January 21, co-operated by showing itself to every birder
that came looking for it, including some who had made repeated unsuccessful efforts to find it).

The remains of a Ruffed Grouse were found at the entrance to a fox's
den beside the Newcastle trail. Bald Eagles have appeared about every
second day, and two observers wondered whether the bird that they saw
might have been a Golden Eagle.

Mourning Doves and Pileated Woodpeckers have begun vocalizing in the
> past few days, another sign of spring. On each of the past two days,
a Northern Shrike was spotted at the calf pasture, probably the same
bird that has been in that vicinity since November.
Golden-crowned Kinglets
were observed on February 21. The American Robins that have been at
> Presqu'ile all winter have moved out into the open again and are
foraging on exposed patches of lawn. Since February
18 there have been
as many as four Brown-headed Cowbirds patronizing the feeders at 85
Bayshore Road, the first of that species in the Park since early
November.

Presqu'ile Provincial Park, ON

Latitude: 44 Longitude: -77.7

Observed by: Donald A.
Contact Observer

The observer's e-mail address will not be disclosed.
Contact will be made through a web-based form.