If this morning's guided walk in the Point Traverse Woods is any indication, things are looking really good for the last three days of this year's Birding Festival. Predictions are for a deluge of birds on the weekend with the forecasted southerly winds and higher temperatures. It will make a great finish to the celebrations that have so far been hampered by wind, rain, snow flakes and cool temperatures. The list today on the 8:00 a.m. hike was much better than yesterday, boasting some respectable numbers of migrants including BLACKBURNIAN, AMERICAN REDSTART, NORTHERN PARULA, OVENBIRDS, lots of YELLOW-RUMPED and YELLOW WARBLERS, BLACK-AND-WHITE and both BLACK-THROATED GREEN and BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLERS. A special treat was a BLUE-WINGED WARBLER and a YELLOW-THROATED VIREO. BALTIMORE ORIOLES, ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAKS, GRAY CATBIRDS, FIELD SPARROWS and HOUSE WRENS were in fine fettle as rare sunshine caused them to burst into song. EASTERN TOWHEES and BROWN THRASHER were at their appointed spots along the route, and a BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER was also seen. Those choosing not to take part in the guided hike, travelled a half kilometre more to the banding station where the HARLEQUIN DUCKS, now numbering nine in total, continue to delight visitors.
The Prince Edward County Birding Festival continues 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. I will be conducting a BIRDING BY EAR workshop on Saturday at 10:00 a.m., following the morning hike. Details at www.peptbo.ca 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/
