Among the many and varied birds at Presqu'ile Provincial Park this past week, only a few have been deemed worthy of drawing
to this compiler's attention. For more reasons than mere comfort, birdersare eagerly awaiting the next cold front and the concomitant first stirrings of fall migration.

The only noteworthy ducks were a flock ofLONG-TAILED DUCKS in Lake Ontario a few days ago. A family of COMMON LOONS (two young) was found just over a week ago. LEAST BITTERNS arebeing seen almost every day, either in the marsh (up to six at a time) or alongthe causeway leading into the Park. Some GREAT EGRETS are still on theirnests on High Bluff Island, while others are making frequent foraging trips toand from there. On July 10, a SNOWY EGRET was identified on the basis of its size (smaller than a GREAT EGRET). A GREEN HERON and a BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON were along the causeway leading to the Park. TURKEY VULTURES are being seen regularly. Two NORTHERN HARRIERS were seen on July 12. Two VIRGINIA RAILS and 12 COMMON GALLINULES were in the marsh on July 11. Since both SOLITARY SANDPIPER and LESSER YELLOWLEGS have reached the Brighton sewage lagoon, which is not far from Presqu'ile, those species may be imminent in the Park. An AMERICAN WOODCOCK collided with a window at the Park office but seems to have been unharmed.

A RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER at the lighthouse yesterday was the first at that location this summer. A COMMON RAVEN
yesterday was also the first this summer. NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOWS and a few BANK SWALLOWS seem to be sharing the colony at the day use area that was occupied in previous years by larger numbers of the latter. A BROWN CREEPER was singing in Jobes' Woods yesterday. A PINE SISKIN visited two different feeders this week.

A new book entitled For the Birds: Recollections and Rambles, by Fred Helleiner, is available from the author (see below) for
$20 plus $2.50 for postage. It is also being sold at the Lighthouse Gift Shop in the Park and at Out on a Limb and Lighthouse Books in Brighton. All profits will be donated to the Friends of Presqu'ile's 25th Anniversary Environmental Fund, which sponsors long-term projects like the eradication of invasive species. This message is authorized by the Ontbirds Coordinator. 

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. Birders are encouraged to record their observations on the bird sightings board provided near the campground office by The Friends of Presqu'ile Park and to fill out a rare bird report for species not listed there.
  
Questions and comments about bird sightings at Presqu'ile may be directed to:

FHELLEINER@TRENTU.CA
.
Fred Helleiner