After the prolonged wait for April weather to arrive, there was a surge of migrants beginning at the end of last week. This week, spring birds have been returning to Presqu'ile Provincial Park every day, while, without fanfare, winter birds are unobtrusively becoming scarce or disappearing altogether. There have been several days with exceptional numbers of birds in the Park. On April 21, the sky and the water in Popham Bay were filled with thousands of Canada Geese. There has been a good variety of ducks present, but their numbers are down to a few hundred. The first two Blue-winged Teal of the spring finally appeared on April 23, much later than usual. Canvasbacks are down to fewer than half a dozen, and Redheads have not been noticed for the past four days. The Surf Scoter that has been present for almost a month can still be found between the government dock and the foot of Langdon Avenue, the same area where an unprecedented flock of Ruddy Ducks has grown and shrunk from one day to the next. On April 26 there were 23 individuals there. Common Goldeneyes are becoming difficult to find, with fewer than ten being seen on any one day. Popham Bay is the most reliable place to find Red-throated Loons, a total of 14 being counted on April 24, with the aid of a spotting scope. Another was seen two days earlier at the lighthouse, where both Horned Grebes and Red-necked Grebes have been spotted this week. Single American Bitterns and Great Egrets have appeared in the marsh on two different days. Raptors are never as common at Presqu'ile as at other locations but a few were noted during the past week, including two Turkey Vultures, an Osprey, an American Kestrel, and a Merlin. A pair of Northern Harriers has been regularly patrolling over the marsh. Common Moorhens have returned to a wetland just outside the Park and are expected in the Presqu'ile marsh soon. A Sandhill Crane flew over that area on April 26, to the delight of four local birders. Formerly extremely rare here, that species appears almost annually now. The vanguard of shorebirds has reached Presqu'ile. Two Dunlins on the beach on April 23 became three the next day and four today. An early Spotted Sandpiper spent April 24 at the opposite end of the Park. An American Woodcock was flushed near Owen Point on April 21. Seven species of woodpeckers were found in the Park this week. One of them, a Red-bellied Woodpecker, was near the lighthouse on April 23, an area where they traditionally appear at this time of year before vanishing a month later. The biggest surprise of the week, however, was the discovery of two Black-backed Woodpeckers together (one female and one of indeterminate sex) in the "fingers" on April 25. Although efforts to re-locate these birds have not been successful, it seems likely that they are still in that large area of suitable habitat. If it can be established that they are breeding there, that might constitute the most southerly such occurrence in Ontario. A Blue-headed Vireo near the lighthouse on April 23 is earlier by one day than the earliest date for that species mentioned in /Birds of Presqu'ile Provincial Park/ (1993). Adding to the northern atmosphere in the "fingers" was a pair of Common Ravens that flew over while the search was on for the northern woodpeckers mentioned above. Five species of swallows have been present almost every day since last weekend near the lighthouse. Cliff Swallows have not yet been spotted in the Park. A noisy Carolina Wren has been singing for the past five days alongside the main road between the Park store and the bird sightings board, and another was heard at the other end of the Park on April 26. There have been many Hermit Thrushes this week: one observer counted 15 on April 22. A Northern Mockingbird was identified on that date near the lighthouse. Seven Brown Thrashers were seen on April 23. Four species of warblers have been seen at Presqu'ile this week, including an early Nashville Warbler on April 24 and 25. An Eastern Towhee was near the lighthouse on April 23, which was also the latest sighting to date of an American Tree Sparrow. Two Vesper Sparrows and five Savannah Sparrows were seen on April 20. Several Fox Sparrows and many White-throated Sparrows were sighted during the week. A White-crowned Sparrow was at Owen Point on April 23, apparently a record early date. While Dark-eyed Juncoes were ubiquitous at the beginning of the week, they are now difficult to find. A few Rusty Blackbirds have been seen in various places. A pair of House Sparrows has taken up residence since April 21 at 186 Bayshore Road. 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. Questions and comments about bird sightings at Presqu'ile may be directed to: FHELLEINER@TRENTU.CA. -- -- Fred Helleiner 186 Bayshore Road, R.R. #4, Brighton, Ontario, Canada, K0K 1H0 VOICE: (613) 475 5309 If visiting, access via Presqu'ile Provincial Park.