WEEKLY BIRD REPORT FROM PRINCE EDWARD COUNTY AND THE QUINTE AREA FOR THE
WEEK ENDING
Thursday, August 13, 2009
It is a month of nesting and a month of migration. While many species of
shorebirds have been arriving at prime shorebird viewing locations such as
Presqu'ile since July, and signs of migration among other species are
evident, for others it's business as usual as AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES nest in
earnest, now that thistle down and seed is available to them. At the same
time, MOURNING DOVES continue to nest, along with SONG SPARROWS and BARN
SWALLOWS, in apparent oblivion as TREE SWALLOWS line up on utility wires
across the region preparatory for the journey south. Other species are
collecting in little family groups and some like PURPLE MARTINS may be
present at nesting boxes in large, musical groups, and other days absent
from the scene.
A siege of 7 GREEN HERONS has been present this week in a small cattail
marsh along George's Road and a LEAST BITTERN was spotted flying into some
cattails at South Bay. The flooded pasture field along County Road 14
between Demorestville and Highway 62, yields surprises almost daily. This
week there were up to 5 GREAT EGRETS present along with 2 SANDHILL CRANES.
SANDHILL CRANES have also been spotted near Big Island, 2 were seen at South
Bay, and another was heard calling in flight over Old Milford Road during
the week. A single BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER flew over South Bay on the 7th and
an EASTERN SCREECH-OWL was heard calling at McMahon Bluff, at Black River.
An immature BALD EAGLE was seen over Smith's Bay on the 11th, and a GREAT
HORNED OWL inexplicably turned up on a hydro pole in a backyard east of
Northport. .
While backyard bird feeders aren't aflutter just yet with redpolls, siskins
and crossbills, those who maintain their feeders during the summer months
have been enjoying their share of interesting observations. At Bloomfield,
an operator there watched as a young MOURNING DOVE perfected its technique
at landing on and eating from a black oil sunflower seed dispenser. Also,
there, BALTIMORE ORIOLES have been lining up to the trough, and a family of
ORCHARD ORIOLES has also been present. ORCHARD ORIOLES have also been
present in backyards at other locations in the County too. A ROSE-BREASTED
GROSBEAK is visiting a feeder in Belleville, and a RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH at
Harmony Road, just north of the city, where juvenile DOWNY WOODPECKERS,
BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEES, NORTHERN CARDINALS, YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKERS and
NORTHERN FLICKERS have all been see feeding young. A quick shower on the go
was all a young RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD took time to enjoy in a Bloomfield
backyard, which took a passing shower and a quick drink of water from the
spray of a garden hose while the owner was watering her garden. PILEATED
WOODPECKERS turned up in backyards at Fish Lake (5) and 2 in the Smith's Bay
area.
AMERICAN BITTERNS this week were seen along Georges Road and at South Bay.
RED-EYED VIREOS, expectedly, were still in fine fettle with their ongoing
interrogations at the Deroche Lake property east of Thomasburg yesterday
during an 8 km hike there, as were WOOD PEWEES. Also heard and seen on the
property were SWAMP SPARROWS, COMMON LOON, COMMON YELLOWTHROAT,
BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER and EASTERN KINGBIRD. To reach Deroche Lake,
take Vanderwater Road east from Highway 37 at Thomasburg and follow until
the road ends. Leave your car at the roadside and follow the ATV trail in.
Upon reaching the first junction, take the trail to the left to begin the 8
km loop and keep turning right at each junction until you return to the end
of the loop. The lake itself is a good spot to have lunch. Bears are present
here, and as we found out yesterday, no dearth of mosquitoes or deer flies.
And that's it for this week from Prince Edward County and the Quinte area.
Our thanks to Peter Hogenbirk, Donald McClure, Judy Kent, Ken Campbell, Mia
Lane, Fiona King, Dave Shannon and Garry Kirsch for their contributions to
this week's report. This report will be updated on Thursday, August 20th,
but sightings can be e-mailed anytime before the Wednesday night deadline.
Featured photo on the Main Birding Page of the NatureStuff website of TREE
SWALLOWS gathering is by Adam Penson of Toronto. Photo of a GREEN HERON at
Beaver Meadow is by Peter Sporring of Belleville, and GREAT EGRET at Cressy
is by Paul Wallace, and both complement the online edition this week of the
Quinte Area Bird Report.
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/
