I've mentioned this before, but once you photograph a bird species it becomes much easier to ID that species in the field.  Merely looking at photos from a book, or online doesn't seem to stay into memory with the necessary tenacity, while shooting it, and then processing the image will almost certainly commit the sighting into memory.  I wouldn't have necessarily been able to identify a Short-billed dowitcher on sight because it is new to me, having only previously seen a couple of Long-billed dowitchers last year.  So, I may have guessed dowitcher, or not, or should I say, or knot ... red knot.  As for Vesper sparrow, the pink/beige bill and legs and the eye-ring is what caught my attention.  The mottling of the bird's back was also unlike a song sparrow.  At first I though the sparrow on the beach was a song sparrow but then I noted the pale yellow lore.  A young bird would have a less intense yellow and would show some pink around the bill as displayed by the sparrow in my photo.

The site was Ed Broadbent Park in Oshawa.

I haven't seen a short-billed dowitcher or a vesper sparrow yet - or more accurately, I have never yet correctly identified a short-billed dowitcher or vesper sparrow yet.

I dropped by at about 8:30 this morning (July 19th) to full sun, almost no wind and cooler, drier air (16 degrees) ... what a relief.  There were 14 Mallards on the pond that were  mostly clustered together just north of the pseudo-island.  There were three juvenile PB grebe, two near the north end and one hanging around with the ducks.  A GBH was on the east side and a second heron flew in soon afterwards.  The air was busy with fly catching:  maybe eight kingbirds, many swallows and lots of waxwings.  A kingfisher appeared and immediately landed in the nesting tree that is surrounded by water.  It just hit me.  Kingbird nesting in tree + surrounded by water = castle with a mote.  I briefly caught sight of a sora on muck duty on the pseudo-island but I didn't get a photo because the spot was into the sun while also in the shadow of the reeds/grasses.  I also briefly spotted the gallinule again.  It was 'on break' within seconds and left the scene but it called out, rather feebly, now and then.  There were fewer dragonflies present than during my last visit.  Also spotted two Song sparrows and one Chipping sparrow.  They didn't seem pleased to see me.  Reesor Rd was as noisy as ever.

Presquille is a great place in fall ...but depends upon how hot a summer for timing


Mid to late August,  the warblers are coming thru there, and best seen there in early morning up at lighthouse area and along the road just north of lighthouse.  They can be found throughout park but best there.  Numbers are not that large as in spring and best if weather is cooler at nights and days, if weather is hot like this week..... numbers will  be poor and only found early not making trip worth


Shorebirds start around  mid August to end September,  can be quite good but again depends upon how hot the summer and water levels.   


Best to start at beach 1 , early 7-9, when no  beach goers there, and walk up beach towards point. They rake the main  beach so most birds are along shore early,  unless some one or dog walkers have spoked them, you can only walk up so far until you come to the  beach 3 where they rope off entrance.   Some years the walk up can have lots of shorebirds, especially if it has rained and puddles on beach have formed.


Next spot would be to stop at general store and take the Owen point trail to point. This is the point where people walk out to the island, most of this area is roped off for protection of shorebird habitat until sept? , not sure the date when they reopen it. Even with rope restrictions, this point is good for seeing shorebirds as area usually rocky and duckweed/ lake weeds for shorebird feeding....views of island are fair but really needs a scope to see birds over there, again best the early in morning


Next stop is lighthouse area and along road north of there, best 7-10 am... depending on temps


Then stop at cow pasture and marsh boardwalk areas




The pond along road going into campground along lake can be good too, with a day pass you can drive into  campground,  just keep following road along lake


Owls- park has a number of pairs of Barred owls, but seen mostly in winter, best place to look is Jobes woods, i never have time after doing other spots,  and jobes woods is a fairly long trail


Park is larger then maps look, you  need to drive from beaches to lighthouse and other spots, bicycle woukd help but still take too much time,  need a car to make best of time


With the humid and heat we had this week , if summer is the same, i would recommend early September,  not August.  There would be less warblers but ....with hot summer the activity for warblers would be limited to 6-8am only.......but on other hand for me presquille is more about shorebirds for me not warblers.....if this is the main goal,  best to try other places  rondeau/ pelee