Thursday, November 10, 2011

November 8, 2011 Purple Sandpiper at Presqu'ile Provinial Park.

Late fall shorebird watching was great a Presqu'ile Provincial Park today. Highlight was a Purple Sandpiper located earlier during the day on Sebastopol Point. There was a good variety of shorebirds including 22 Black-bellied Plover, 2 White-rumped Sandpiper, 24 Sanderling, and 12 Dunlin. The Purple Sandpiper spent most of its time along the north east corner of Gull Island and also flew over to the gravel point off Owen Point.

Good Birding, Bruce

Directions: 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 not using a boat should be prepared to wade through knee-deep water in which there is often a swift current and a substrate that is somewhat uneven and slippery. It should also be noted that, because duck hunting is given priority on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, Gull Island, High Bluff Island, Owen Point, and part of the calf pasture are not
available for bird-watching on those days. Birders are encouraged to record their observations on the bird sightings board provided near the campground office by The Friends of Presqu'ile Park and to fill out a rare bird report for species not listed there.




The Purple Sandpiper resting with Dunlin and a White-rumped sandpiper. The Purple Sandpiper is a regular fall migrant in small numbers at Presqu'ile.


A mixed flock of Black-bellied Plover, Dunlin, Sanderling and a Purple Sandpiper.


Shorebirds gather off Owen point on one of the small gravel islands that link to Gull Island. Rubber boots or waders are required to walk over to Gull Island.



Sunset over Popham Bay and Sebastopol Point at Presqu'ile.

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