Most of the interesting bird sightings at Presqu'ile Provincial Park during the past week have been on, over, or adjacent to the water. The beaches, in particular, have been productive now that major algae accumulations are beginning to occur along the shore. Common Loons are being reported at various places offshore, sometimes in small groups and sometimes singly. A few can be heard calling in the early mornings. For the third consecutive year, several nests of Great Egrets have been discovered by Park staff on High Bluff Island, where eleven birds were in sight at one time. Individuals and pairs are regularly seen around the marsh, on the natural beach near Owen Point, and flying over. A Green Heron flew over near the lighthouse on June 13. On June 6, a canoe trip in and around the marsh produced a Canvasback, three Lesser Scaup, and two Buffleheads, all of them males, as well as an Osprey and a Common Moorhen. Between June 9, when about 100 shorebirds were on the beach, and June 12, eleven species of shorebirds were recorded, six of which were still present on June 13. The highest number of any species was the estimate of 80 Semipalmated Sandpipers on June 9, but these had dwindled to about 20 by June 13. The 10-15 Sanderlings on the earlier date are still there in similar numbers, as are the 2-3 Dunlins, the 1-4 Semipalmated Plovers, and the 1-2 Ruddy Turnstones. In surprising contrast, the count of White-rumped Sandpipers has increased from 1 to 4 over that period. The 3 Red Knots that were present on June 9 appear to have left. It has become increasingly difficult in recent years to find Common Snipe in the Park, but recently they have been frequenting the north end of the beach area. The best find of the week was a female Wilson's Phalarope that spent only a brief period at beach 3 on June 12, the first phalarope of any species reported at Presqu'ile in almost two years. Two Bonaparte's Gulls were seen on the beach on June 9, and another was seen on the opposite side of Presqu'ile Bay (Barcovan Beach) on June 13. The pair of Red-headed Woodpeckers believed to be nesting at the lighthouse can often be seen enlarging a crack in a wooden light standard outside 187 Bayshore Road. An Eastern Wood-Pewee at the lighthouse on June 13 was probably a late migrant. A White-throated Sparrow seen near there on June 7 is not known to be nesting in that vicinity. Outside the Park, a sighting of a White-eyed Vireo in downtown Brighton on June 9 came as a surprise to the two observers. 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 normally available at the Park gate. Access to the offshore islands is restricted at this time of year to prevent disturbance to the colonial nesting birds there. 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>