By Doug McRae
Overview: The late season migration carried on through the week but there were no
days with major movements. The outstanding highlight was a Pomarine Jaeger seen
from Gull Is. – one of only a handful of records for the Park. Gull Is. continues to be
the hot spot for shorebirds, as well as many other interesting birds. It is accessible
by wading about 150m from the tip of Owen Pt. The water level seems to have
dropped slightly but is still above most rubber boots. Landbirds were most
frequently reported from traditional concentration points like Calf Pasture, the
Lighthouse area, and Owen Pt.
TRUMPETER SWAN – 8 were seen on 10 Oct, with two more on 14 Oct.
TUNDRA SWAN – 2 seen on 13 Oct were the first of fall.
GADWALL – 50 on 13 Oct was a high count.
BLUE-WINGED TEAL – 2 on 10 Oct were the first in several weeks.
SURF SCOTER – 2 on 11 Oct and 1 on 15 Oct were the only reports.
RUDDY DUCK – 1 on 13 Oct was a good find of this scarce but annual visitor.
GREAT EGRET – 1 bird was seen throughout the week in the causeway marsh.
BALD EAGLE – 1 was seen on 12 Oct.
COMMON GALLINULE – 2 were still in the marsh on 10 Oct.
SEMIPALMATED PLOVER – seen throughout the week with a high of 7 on 14 Oct.
GREATER YELLOWLEGS – 5 on 11 Oct was the only report.
RUDDY TURNSTONE – last report was of 1 on 14 Oct.
RED KNOT – a late bird was on Sebastopol Pt. (the rocky island north of Gull Is.) on
11 Oct.
SANDERLING – present all week with a high of 51 on 14 Oct.
DUNLIN – present all week with a high of 65 on 10 Oct.
WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER – the first juvenile of the year was on Gull Is. on 11 Oct
and seen again on 13 Oct.
PECTORAL SANDPIPER – 1 was on Gull Is. on 11 and 13 Oct.
SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER – 1 was on Gull Is. on 11 Oct and 3 were there on 13
Oct.
POMARINE JAEGER – 1 was seen off Gull Is. chasing gulls on 13 Oct. Jaegers are
always tough to see at Presqu’ile and the vast majority of records pertain to
Parasitic Jaeger - there are just a few previous records of this species for the Park.
BONAPARTE’S GULL – numbers are finally starting to pick up with 35 on 14 Oct
being the high count.
LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL – a first winter bird was seen on Gull Is. on 13 Oct.
CASPAIN TERN – a late bird was seen on 11 Oct.
BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO – a very late bird was seen at Calf Pasture on 12 Oct.
PEREGRINE FALCON – 1 was on Gull Is. on 13 Oct.
EASTERN WOOD-PEWEE – 1 non-vocalizing bird (therefore presumed Eastern) was
seen just outside the gate at the Birdhouse Nature Store on 9 Oct.
BLUE-HEADED VIREO – 1 on 11 Oct, 1 on 14 Oct, and 2 on 15 Oct.
HORNED LARK – 2 birds were on Gull Is. on 14 Oct.
HOUSE WREN – a late bird was seen on 9 Oct.
MARSH WREN – 1 on 13 Oct.
VEERY – a very late bird was seen on 14 Oct.
GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSH – 1 on 14 Oct is getting late.
WOOD THRUSH – a very late bird was seen on 15 Oct.
LAPLAND LONGSPUR – A flock of 12 was seen on Gull Is. on 11 Oct, with 1 on 13 Oct
and 1 on 14 Oct.
ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER – This late-migrating warbler was seen three times
with 2 on 11 Oct, 1 on 12 Oct and 1 on 14 Oct.
NASHVILLE WARBLER – 2 different birds were seen on 13 Oct.
COMMON YELLOWTHROAT – 1 on 13 Oct was the only report.
NORTHERN PARULA – there were 4 reports of this species including 1 on 11 Oct, 1 on 13 Oct, 2 different birds on 14 Oct.
MAGNOLIA WARBLER – a late bird was reported on 13 Oct.
BLACKPOLL WARBLER – a bird on 14 Oct is getting late.
BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLER – 3 were seen by two parties on 13 Oct.
PALM WARBLER – 1 on 13 Oct and 1 on 14 Oct.
YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER – small numbers present throughout the week.
BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER – 1 was seen on 13 Oct.
FOX SPARROW – the first of fall was a single on 12 Oct.
LINCOLN’S SPARROW – 1 on 11 Oct is getting late.
BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD – a single bird on Gull Is. was seen on 11 Oct and 13 Oct.
PINE SISKIN – the movement of siskins noticed last week continues with sightings through this week with a high of 120 on 10 Oct and 85 on 11 Oct.