In contrast to the late January conditions at Presqu'ile Provincial Park, early February has seen a great deal of water opening up and the consequent beginning of the spring waterfowl migration, which usually reaches its peak in March. Recent conditions on the great lakes are reminiscent of those that prevailed at the same time of year in 2003. At that time, the sudden arrival of Red-necked Grebes on rivers in many parts of Ontario fueled speculation that they had been frozen out of the lakes and were finding refuge where there was open water. The fact that no such "invasion" of grebes has been reported yet this year, when many of the lakes did freeze, suggests that an alternate explanation may be more valid, namely that Red-necked Grebes are among the earliest of water birds to arrive in spring. If that is the case, observers should be watching for them at Presqu'ile, since February was when the birds appeared two years ago. On February 7, there was a major influx of waterfowl to Presqu'ile Bay, which had just begun to open up. Among others, there was a pair of Gadwalls (fully ten days earlier than any previous report, according to the now 12-year-old /Birds of Presqu'ile Provincial Park/), up to 35 Canvasbacks (including two females), about 100 Redheads, several thousand Greater Scaup, and a White-winged Scoter. Many of these ducks are still present and can best be viewed with a spotting scope from the government dock on Bayshore Road. Two Bald Eagles were seen in the Park during the past week, an adult sitting on High Bluff Island and an immature flying past the lighthouse and into Presqu'ile Bay. A dead Northern Goshawk was picked up. Although it was too foggy to see them from the mainland, Ring-billed Gulls could be heard calling around Gull Island earlier this week, suggesting that they may already be staking out their nesting territories. A Snowy Owl was sitting on the ice of Presqu'ile Bay on February 4 and 6. One of the resident Barred Owls in Jobes' Woods was sitting in plain view of the road (Paxton Drive) on February 8. On the same day, there was an adult Northern Shrike at the calf pasture. A small movement of American Crows into the Park took place this week, after a winter with very few of that species present. The Tufted Titmouse that has been present for over four months has recently visited feeders at 89, 94, and 186 Bayshore Road, and has also been heard singing, both at one of the feeders and along Lighthouse Lane near Denson Cottage. Although American Tree Sparrows have been regular feeder patrons all winter near Langdon Avenue, the presence of a single bird near the lighthouse throughout much of the day on March 8 suggests that it might have been an early migrant. 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. Although the channel separating Gull Island from Owen Point may appear to be frozen over, the thickness of the ice is probably unreliable because of the underlying currents. 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.