WEEKLY BIRD REPORT FROM THE QUINTE AREA for Sunday, January 12, 2003 Of course, the big news during the week was the appearance of a male VARIED THRUSH at 383 Prinyer's Cove Crescent in Prince Edward County. As a matter of interest, this is only .5 km from where the Ross's Goose turned up for one day in November, and only 3 km east of where a Say's Phoebe was present in 1994. The VARIED THRUSH is most dependable in the morning when it appears on the average of every half hour. My wife and I had a good look at it this morning at 11:15 a.m. At this same feeder there is also a RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER. About 25 or 30 people have come to see the bird so far. Observers are asked to park well off the road. Follow the driveway in and take the path on the left side of the double garage. The bird is easily spooked so do not approach any closer than the back of the garage where it can be easily viewed when it arrives. From Lake-on-the-Mountain, follow County Road 7 for 17 km, and turn left onto Prinyer's Cove Crescent, and follow for another 2 km to Civic Address # 383. The feeder operator, Rita Chapman, says that a female VARIED THRUSH is also visiting the feeder, and birders are requested to contact the e-mail address below if anyone else should see it. In fact, e-mails from all of those who have seen the male VARIED THRUSH would be welcome too, just for my files.
With the arrival of snow, most feeders are reporting good success now around the county. The CAROLINA WREN was at my feeder at 23 Sprague Road again today. Feeders at 2800 County Road 1, northwest of Bloomfield has a RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER, and today, there was a WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW there. A WHITE-THROATED SPARROW is also coming to the feeder, and as many as 4 SONG SPARROWS have been present in the swamp near the house. A NORTHERN FLICKER was seen at Elmbrook today, and there was a GREAT BLUE HERON seen in flight along Highway 62, just a short distance south of Grumpies Gas Station in the community of Crofton. A PILEATED WOODPECKER and a WHITE-THROATED SPARROW were seen along Ridge Road south of Picton. Prinyer's Cove Crescent had an EASTERN BLUEBIRD on Tuesday, and there were 5 YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS, 75 CEDAR WAXWINGS and large flocks of AMERICAN ROBINS on Rock Crossroad during the week. Large numbers of AMERICAN ROBINS were also encountered today throughout the county by one observer, along with three small flocks of HORNED LARKS. There were 8 EASTERN BLUEBIRDS today at Point Petre and another NORTHERN FLICKER seen on Victoria Road. Beaver Meadow Wildlife Management Area during the week produced RED-TAILED HAWK, 2 PILEATED WOODPECKERS, GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET and a SONG SPARROW. BALD EAGLES continue to show up in the area with an adult being seen on Monday on Long Point Road, and another adult in the vicinity of the Cressy Church. Observers taking part in the annual waterfowl count today had reasonably good success in county waters despite high winds in those areas. The Lake Ontario shoreline was relatively free of ice and species seen were 2 MUTE SWANS, 33 CANADA GEESE, 11 AMERICAN BLACK DUCKS, 341 MALLARDS, 1 GREATER SCAUP, 420 LONG-TAILED DUCKS, 9 WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS, 447 COMMON GOLDENEYES, 232 BUFFLEHEADS, 4 COMMON MERGANSERS, and 76 RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS. Reports to come in from outside Prince Edward County during the week included a GREEN-WINGED TEAL on the Moira River near the Belleville Pinnacle Street bridge, two separate flocks of WILD TURKEYS north of Belleville comprising 40 birds and 68 birds, 300 CEDAR WAXWINGS near Frankford, a PEREGRINE FALCON being harassed by a crow at the corner of Herchimer Avenue and Highway 2 in Belleville, and a RUSTY BLACKBIRD coming to a feeder in the Colborne area. And that's it for this week from Prince Edward County and the Quinte area. Our thanks to Rick Cathrae, Tony Knight, Rita Chapman, Don Craighead, Ken Kingdon, Margaret Bain, John Blaney, Glen Post, Paul Wallace, Fraser McKen, Allan Cullum, Nancy Fox, Wynne Thomas, Henry Pasilla, Donn and John Legate, Joanne Dewey, Howard Johnston and Nick Quickert for their contributions to this week's report. This report will be updated by 8:00 p.m. on Sunday, January 19th. Bird sightings must be in by 6:00 p.m. Sunday evening to be included in the next report. Good winter birding ! Terry Sprague Picton, Ontario [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.naturestuff.net "Terry Sprague" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
