WEEKLY BIRD REPORT FROM PRINCE EDWARD COUNTY AND THE QUINTE AREA FOR THE WEEK ENDING Thursday, February 26, 2009 While an increasing number of AMERICAN ROBINS appearing across the Quinte region with the somewhat milder weather in recent days would seem to suggest spring, some in Belleville even going so far as to stake out territory - Prince Edward County's first and only GREAT GRAY OWL of the season appearing in an open field near Harbard Road in Gardenville begs to disagree. It appeared on the 20th, was photographed from a distance, but hasn't been since since. Other reminders that winter is not quite over yet are two appearances of HOARY REDPOLLS at feeders - one still coming to a feeder east of Lake on the Mountain, along with a recent arrival at a feeder on Belleville's Murney Street. COMMON REDPOLLS there now number about 50, and one operator of a bird feeder at Yarker had mixed emotions this week about a flock of "at least 300" devouring niger seed. COMMON REDPOLL numbers remain high at many feeders across the region, but PINE SISKIN numbers seem to be dropping, although there are still 50 coming to feeders at Consecon Lake. An impressive flock of 500 COMMON REDPOLLS can be seen most days hanging out in fields this week east of Stirling. WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS are still tuning up here and there across the region. A WHITE-THROATED SPARROW appears sporadically at feeders in the South Bay area and at 23 Sprague Road, and two continue to be regulars at an Allisonville feeder. Two FOX SPARROW showed up at a feeder west of Trenton and a BROWN CREEPER was seen in a Harmony Road spruce tree in Thurlow on the 22nd. A CAROLINA WREN that has spent all winter at a feeder along the edge of Sandbanks Provincial Park is still a regular, and a SONG SPARROW is at a Maitland Drive feeder in Belleville. EASTERN BLUEBIRDS this week along Black Road, and a male was seen east of Cherry Valley, and a single YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER on the 21st between Army Reserve Road and Point Petre Lighthouse, where a nice flock of 150 CEDAR WAXWINGS also turned up. WILD TURKEYS are starting to wander around a bit more now, and up to 150 have been seen at various locations between Ridge Road and Cherry Valley. Along River Valley Road near Stirling, 22 WILD TURKEYS were guests for breakfast early one morning, mingling with nine WHITE-TAILED DEER. The WILD TURKEYS were all males and the observer noted that other birds fed contentedly in the presence of the large visitors, but when the females arrived as a group later to feed, all birds at the feeder scattered and did not return until after the turkeys had finished. Some things in life we can only speculate about. As the weather warms, waterfowl viewing opportunities improve around the county, while at Presqu'ile Provincial Park, plans are under way for their big Waterfowl Viewing weekends slated for the weekends of March 14th and 15th and and 21st and 22nd. GREATER SCAUP, RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS, BUFFLEHEADS, COMMON GOLDENEYES and LONG-TAILED DUCKS can all be seen at Point Petre now. MUTE SWANS were seen in flight along the shore of Prince Edward Bay at Cape Vesey this week, and varying numbers are always present at Barcovan Beach in Wellers Bay. Wellington Harbour seems to respond to the whims of wind, but yesterday morning there were eight species of waterfowl present, among them 13 MUTE SWANS and 250 CANADA GEESE. RED-TAILED HAWKS seen around the Quinte area, included two sitting side by side along Sprague Road yesterday morning, and individuals along Hamilton Road in Quinte West, a regular in a Trenton backyard, several in the Belleville area, and lots of COOPER'S and SHARP-SHINNED HAWKS raiding feeders. An adult BALD EAGLE continues to patrol; the ridge along Adolphus Reach in the Glenora to Prinyer's Cove area. However, if we still need assurance that spring is on the way, perhaps it can be found in the swarms of EUROPEAN STARLINGS now blanketing Prince Edward County. One observer estimated his flock feeding on staghorn sumac berries to be in the range of at least 1,500. Even in Tweed there have been signs, among them the season's first MILBERT'S TORTOISE SHELL on February 21st, albeit dead, hit by a car and then stepped on by a pedestrian, this week's featured photo on the Main Birding Page of the NatureStuff website. A FISHER was found dead on County Road 17 in Prince Edward County, and an adult RED FOX on the north side of Belleville with its belly ripped apart, perhaps by a fisher that was a little more fortunate than the individual in Prince Edward County. And on those morbid notes, that's it for this week from Prince Edward County and the Quinte area. Our thanks to Wayne Holebrook, Fred Chandler, Joe Bartok, Tyler Hoar, Angela Mantle, Garry Kirsch, Louisa Ielo, Gerry Watson, George Kratz, Joan Laurie, Dave & Judy Bell, Jess Chambers, Fiona King, Ted Cullin, Lyle Anderson, Frank Artes & Carolyn Barnes, Laura Pierce, Steve Bolton, Gloria Durell, Pamela Stagg, John Blaney and Nancy Smits for their contributions to this week's report. This report will be updated on Thursday, March 5th, but sightings can be e-mailed any time before the Wednesday night deadline. Featured photos in the online edition of the Quinte Area Bird Report of a female PURPLE FINCH and a HOARY REDPOLL are by Garry Kirsch of Belleville. Terry Sprague Prince Edward County tspra...@kos.net www.naturestuff.net _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS@hwcn.org For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
