Although the bird migration has slowed considerably at Presqu'ile Provincial Park, there still is plenty of variety to satisfy most birders visiting the Park. Many of the species observed during the past week are the same ones that had been reported earlier, but they include several that are unusual. A remarkable 44 Horned Grebes and two Red-necked Grebes were spotted in Popham Bay on September 22. As recently as September 23, a Great Egret was still feeding in the marsh. Small flocks of Redheads have been seen, including about 8 individuals that are regularly visible from Bayshore Road, along with a female Bufflehead that has been present since September 22. The female Common Goldeneye in the Salt Point area has now been present for six weeks. Merlins have become almost a common sight at Owen Point and Salt Point, and Peregrine Falcons have been seen at Owen Point on September 23 and 26. At least four areas of the Park are worth checking for shorebirds: the traditional Owen Point/natural beach stretch (whenever the falcons have remained out of sight), Gull Island, Chatterton Point, and Salt Point, where a thick mat of algae has lingered for several weeks and is attracting shorebirds that can easily be viewed from above along Bayshore Road. American Golden-Plovers are being seen almost every day off Owen Point. Greater Yellowlegs are appearing in increasing numbers. Two Red Knots were off Owen Point on September 22 and one was still there on the next day. Three or four Baird's Sandpipers are among the other peeps at Chatterton Point and Owen Point. A Stilt Sandpiper was seen on both September 22 and 25. Buff-breasted Sandpipers, as many as three at a time, have been seen at Owen Point and Gull Island as recently as September 26. The Long-billed Dowitchers that were present for a few days last week have not been reported since September 19, but single Short-billed Dowitchers have appeared at Chatterton Point and Salt Point. The most recent Little Gull and Forster's Tern sightings were on September 21 and September 20, respectively. A rather late Common Tern was still at Owen Point on September 26. Although Ruby-throated Hummingbirds were common in the Park last week, one is hard-pressed to find them now. One was seen on September 26. A few Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers and an abundance of Northern Flickers represent a noticeable change from last week. There are still a few of the regular flycatchers lingering in the Park, but observers should be on the lookout for rare southern or western flycatchers that occasionally appear at this time of year, an example of which is the Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher which spent a few days at the calf pasture in late September sixteen years ago. Exotic species of various kinds are sometimes wafted into southern Ontario by autumn hurricanes that swing into the area. The eye of the present hurricane will probably miss us, but we can hope that something unusual may turn up. A Yellow-throated Vireo on September 24 and Philadelphia Vireos on the 23rd, 24th, and 25th accompanied the waves of warblers that have passed through recently, as have both Golden-crowned and Ruby-crowned Kinglets. Gray-cheeked, Swainson's, and Wood Thrushes have all been seen this week; in fact all three were seen on September 25. A Brown Thrasher at the calf pasture on September 22 was the first reported this fall. A flock of about 20 American Pipits continues to frequent Gull Island. There have been some spectacular, if widely scattered, waves of warblers at Presqu'ile this week, including one pocket of ten species within an area of 3 metres by 6 metres. As many as four Northern Parulas and ten Palm Warblers have been seen in a single day. Tennessee, Cape May, and Canada Warblers were also reported. A rather late Baltimore Oriole was seen on September 20. Migrant sparrows that have arrived in the Park this week include significant numbers of White-throated Sparrows and a Lincoln's Sparrow. 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. Visitors to Gull Island should be prepared to wade through knee-deep water in which there is often a swift current and a substrate that is somewhat uneven. It should also be noted that, because duck hunting is given priority on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, Gull Island, Owen Point, and part of the calf pasture are not available for bird-watching on those days. 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. Fred Helleiner <fhelleiner@trentu.ca>