WEEKLY BIRD REPORT FROM PRINCE EDWARD COUNTY AND THE QUINTE AREA for Sunday, February 15, 2004
Winter continues in Prince Edward County and the Quinte area, and bird feeder operators are rejoicing. Some feeders in the county continue to bask in unprecedented numbers of birds. A feeder near Waupoos currently has 60 DARK-EYED JUNCOS, 50 BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEES, 20 BLUE JAYS, 4 NORTHERN CARDINALS, 4 WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCHES, 2 COMMON CROWS, 10 TREE SPARROWS, 6 WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS, and 4 WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS making daily visits there. Occasional visitors to the same feeder include 50 CEDAR WAXWINGS, and 10 each of COMMON REDPOLLS and PINE SISKINS. Located high above Smith's Bay and an extensive wooded area below, the feeders and general area have always been a favourite stop on the Prince Edward Point Christmas Bird Count. COMMON REDPOLLS were also seen at feeders north of the county, along Airport Parkway just east of Belleville. The snow depth continued to drive SNOW BUNTINGS to feeders at Big Island where individuals now come and feed beneath a large Norway maple. At Pleasant Bay, SNOW BUNTINGS there are making use of a fly through feeder, first landing on its roof, then working their way down to the feed tray. RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS are coming to feeders at both the east and west ends of Big Island, as well as to a Napanee area feeder. Two RUSTY BLACKBIRDS were seen just outside Trenton on Tuesday, and another RUSTY BLACKBIRD turned up at a feeder this morning at 2800 County Road #1 near Bloomfield, and yet another was at a feeder during the week at Smith's Bay. At 1831 North Big Island Road, there is a FOX SPARROW feeding regularly which can be seen from the roadside, the BOREAL CHICKADEE is still at the Rednersville area feeder, and 20 PINE SISKINS were seen at a feeder at Prinyer's Cove on Tuesday. Even avid birders are checking over their shoulders for signs of spring, but winter just keeps sending its fury. The only positive sign during the past week beyond the scattered flocks of HORNED LARKS that keep appearing along the roadsides, were a number of AMERICAN ROBIN reports, likely wintering individuals lured out by a few days of sunshine. There was a PILEATED WOODPECKER on Royal Road on Tuesday, and a NORTHERN FLICKER the same day on Prinyer's Cove Crescent. Six EASTERN BLUEBIRDS were on a South Bay sundeck on Thursday. It is difficult to say how many of the 13 TURKEY VULTURES that were found during the county's Christmas Bird Count remained here through the winter, but there are at least two or three judging from reports. One was seen at Smith's Bay during the week where a NORTHERN SHRIKE and a BALD EAGLE were also seen. There are at least three BALD EAGLES - one adult and two immatures - that may be seen coursing back and forth along the North Marysburgh shoreline, from Waupoos, east to Prinyer's Cove and back along the north shore to Glenora. A COOPER'S HAWK was seen east of Lake-on-the-Mountain, and SHARP-SHINNED HAWKS showed up at feeders at the same location as well as at a residence near the Big Island causeway. Other raptors seen included a SNOWY OWL early in the week near Wellington, and a BARRED OWL east of Belleville. An EASTERN SCREECH OWL was mildly surprised, but no more than the observer, when a wood duck nesting box was opened for cleaning at Prince Edward Point during the week. The lid was replaced and only the remainder of the boxes were cleaned and replenished with fresh wood shavings for this year's crop of wood ducks. And that's it for this week from Prince Edward County and the Quinte area. Our thanks to Albert Boisvert, Thomas Rymes, Mary Mouck, Jayne Burkholder, John Charlton, Fred Chandler, Shirley & Ken Joyce, Nancy Fox, Don Chisholm, Carolyn Reynolds and Joe Victor for their contributions to this week's report This report also appears weekly on the Birding Page at www.naturestuff.net. This report will be updated by 8:00 p.m. on Sunday, February 22nd. 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] www.naturestuff.net "Terry Sprague" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Visit http://www.ofo.ca/ontbirdsguide.htm for information on leaving and joining the list. As well as general information and content guidelines.
