The Prince Edward County Birding Festival is running this week, until Sunday, May 16th. Guided bird walks along trails in the Point Traverse Woods (Prince Edward Point) every morning at 8:00 a.m., Art of Flight show, banding demonstrations and workshops. Details at www.peptbo.ca
The 5 HARLEQUIN DUCKS are still present as a bonus to those enjoying the Birding Festival this spring, and can be found most days along the shoreline between the lighthouse and Point Traverse. The 8:00 a.m. guided hike this morning in the Point Traverse Woods yielded several NORTHERN PARULAS, BLACK-AND-WHITE, BLACK-THROATED BLUE, BLACK-THROATED GREEN, and lots of YELLOW-RUMPED and YELLOW WARBLERS. Other observers reported AMERICAN REDSTARTS, GOLDEN-WINGED and BAY-BREASTED WARBLER, SCARLET TANAGER, and RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD. Also seen were VEERY, RED-EYED VIREO, many ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAKS, EASTERN TOWHEE, RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS and LONG-TAILED DUCKS. The Point Traverse Woods area is located just prior to the sharp 90-degree corner, 1/2 km from the banding station and contains a network of groomed trails and benches. Access is from the corner or across from the outdoor privy at the roadside farther west. Still not a lot of activity for the binocular brigade, but hopefully this will change before week's end. To reach Prince Edward Point National Wildlife Area, take Main Street from the east end of downtown Picton, down the "Town Hill", and turn immediately right onto Union Street (directly across from Tip of the Bay Motel). Follow Union Street out of Picton (becomes County Road 8) for 2.5 km, and at the junction in the highway, follow County Road 17. Take County Road 17 for 6.5 km and look for the Black River Cheese sign, and turn left onto County Road 16 and follow for 1 km to the Stop sign at County Road 13. Follow County Road 13 past Black River Cheese for 23.6 km to the Prince Edward Point National Wildlife Area (County Road 13 eventually becomes Long Point Road). Follow Long Point Road until you begin passing the Point Traverse Woods and trails on the left and the Observatory a half kilometre farther along. Terry Sprague 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/
