Asking about Prequ'ile Provincial Park

[Shortsighted]

Does anyone have any salient advise about birding at Presqu'ile in the fall, or late-summer (early September)?  A day trip from Toronto means having some insight upon arrival so that the precious few hours during the day are not wasted doing the wrong thing.  I realize that there is no substitute for really knowing a site but when the site is two hours away it helps to have some advise before leaving.  I think that I was there in 2012 (point-and-shoot days) and I recall not knowing exactly where to go for bird photography.  Any advise?  I'm sure there are at least a few members of this forum that would like to tell me where to go.

[Dr. John]

Unfortunately I haven't been in many years, so I can't really advise.

[Shortsighted]

Oh well, thanks for replying.  I'm not really expected bountiful edification because this forum's member roster is just too small.

[Charline]

I have been to the park three times. I saw few birds in my summer trip  But in the early spring, there were reasonable amount of birds including wablers near the light house. I was told there were owls, but I didn't see any. There must be birds especially water birds hiding in the marshes. I only saw some common ones.

[Shortsighted]

Thanks for your reply.  I was hoping for some shorebirds in early September and I suspect that the beach along the western edge of the peninsula might be where they would hang out, but I don't really know.  Does one need to walk to the lighthouse, or can one drive there?  In a way, TTP park here in Toronto might offer almost the same shorebird activity as way out at Presqu'ile so making a four hour round trip might not be profitable.  Even at TTP it requires multiple trips, each starting early in the morning.  This is easy for someone that lives in the Beaches but not so delightful when coming in from Pickering.  I guess I'll play it by ear and see how I feel.  I'm not even sure of the best time to visit Presqu'ile.  I guess I could gauge it through eBird reports, just like I would do with TTP.  Just talking about a long trip reminds me that I have an idiot light signally on my dashboard.  Something to do with tires/wheels.  I checked tire pressure and that does not seem to be the problem and the brakes feel just fine.  I'll have to look it up.

[lovemypt]

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

[Shortsighted]

Wow, that is a comprehensive report and I'll need to review it several times.  The part that scares me is your view that the park is much bigger than it appears to be on a map.  A day goes by very quickly and I might not achieve much more than tackling the beach.  I could very well have a backache after the two-hour drive to Presqu'ile. 

I'm expected a hot and dry late summer.  Being dry (little rain) does not preclude humidity, which I expect will persist well into September.  I'll still play it by ear but I greatly appreciate the time you spent in guiding me through this unfamiliar location.  You must have been there many times.  Do you have reserved parking and can I use it?   Finding warblers in my area from mid-August until early October should suffice, if I range from Darlington to Scarborough.  I usually manage to find something of interest along the waterfront between Darlington PP and Beaton Point in Oshawa, while Petticoat Creek and the grounds of the Guildwood are both not too far from where I live.  I'll probably try TTP a few times for shorebirds (last year for Am. Golden plover and Long-billed dowitcher) as well as influence through timely ebird reports.  I'm also worried by my old car.  I'm sure there is a law of probability that favours breakdown at the worse of times, like on a trip.  Perhaps a corollary of Murphy's Law.  Thanks again.