Birding at Presqu'ile Provincial Park has continued to provide plenty of opportunities to find both numbers and variety of species. Several interesting birds have stayed in the same general areas long enough for a number of observers to find them. The latest sighting of a Great Egret was on October 6, but prior to that, one or two could always be found in the marsh, where a rather late Green Heron was reported on October 4. Two Greater White-fronted Geese were observed at the natural beach (lookout # 2) on October 8. A Brant swam off the lighthouse on October 5, but soon flew away. Despite the duck hunting that has made them very wary, a good variety of ducks can be found on most days, including increasing numbers of diving ducks. Ring-necked Ducks, White-winged Scoters, Buffleheads, Common Goldeneyes, and Long-tailed Ducks have all been present prior to this past week, but have also been seen recently. On the other hand, a Surf Scoter at Owen Point on October 8, two Ruddy Ducks at the calf pasture on October 9, and two drake Harlequin Ducks flying past Gull Island on October 7 are the first reports of those species this fall. The latter report came from a duck hunter who is alleged to "know his ducks". He reported that they were not quite in full adult plumage. *A sub-adult Bald Eagle (white head but dark tail) was perched over the marsh on October 6 and later flew out over Owen Point, much to the distress of the ducks in that area. An Osprey was reported on October 9, one of very few seen at Presqu'ile this fall. Peregrine Falcon sightings, mostly at Owen Point, continued up until October 8, and Merlins were sighted daily until October 7 in various parts of the Park. A significant migration of various species of hawks and vultures took place just outside the Park on October 8. * *At eighteen species, the variety of shorebirds in the Park during the past week remains as high as in previous weeks, but that total is not indicative of the handful of species making up the large flocks in the middle of this week. Highlights of the past seven days are a late Solitary Sandpiper flying over Beach 1 on October 6, a Red Knot that continues to frequent the area from Owen Point to Beach 3, Stilt Sandpipers seen On October 6 and 7, the more recent one being at Salt Point, and two Long-billed Dowitchers at that location on the same date. * *A camper in the Maples campground heard a Saw-whet Owl around midnight on October 4, and reported a Barred Owl the following night. A check of the red cedars on High Bluff Island in which Saw-whet Owls frequently roost at this time of year failed to reveal any at all. In fact, very few of those trees are still present. However, there is plenty of suitable habitat on the mainland, but it takes patience to find those birds. * *An Eastern Wood-Pewee was seen on October 7 at 83 Bayshore Road, and another has been at the lighthouse on October 9 and 10. All of these are late dates for that species. A few Red-eyed Vireos are also still being seen, as recently as October 8. A Gray Catbird was still at the lighthouse on October 9. * *Among the fifteen species of warblers present in the past week, all but a few (including several Orange-crowned Warblers and Northern Parulas) have already departed. Some of the late sightings include Tennessee Warbler (October 5), a very late Yellow Warbler (October 6), Magnolia Warbler (October 7), American Redstart (October 10), a record late Northern Waterthrush (October 7), and a late Wilson's Warbler (October 6). * *A Fox Sparrow and an Evening Grosbeak on October 6 were the first of those species seen at Presqu'ile this fall. There were several sightings of a Lapland Longspur at Owen Point and on Gull Island. 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 shin-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 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>