Report from the Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory for the week of October
15-21, courtesy of manager David Okines.
A few COMMON LOONS are flying past every day and 4 HORNED GREBES were
sitting off the Point on the 20th. The 21st saw the first RED-NECKED GREBE
of the fall near the harbour entrance. A flock of 6 AMERICAN BLACK DUCKS
flew past on the 19th, the GREATER SCAUP flock offshore continues to be seen
sporadically when up to 500 can be seen, WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS numbered 150
on the 21st and up to 6 LONG-TAILED DUCKS are being seen daily. The first
COMMON MERGANSERS of the fall were seen on the 18th near the lighthouse and
110 RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS were seen around the Point on the 19th.
On the 16th a few raptors were moving and included 2 BALD EAGLES, 15
NORTHERN HARRIERS, 75 SHARP-SHINNED HAWKS, 4 COOPER'S HAWKS, 3 NORTHERN
GOSHAWKS, 25 RED-TAILED HAWKS and the first ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK of the fall.
Sixteen BONAPARTE'S GULLS on the 21st were the first of that ilk for nearly
three weeks. NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWLS were slower this week but we still
managed to catch 310 birds. Also caught were 9 BARRED OWLS including seven
in one night. The RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER that has been seen occasionally
finally blundered into a net on the 20th and is only the second one caught
here in the fall. HAIRY WOODPECKERS are becoming commoner with 2-3 a day
being seen.
Four to six EASTERN PHOEBES a day are being noted and BLUE-HEADED VIREOS are
starting to decrease with a peak of 12 on the 17th. Up to 115 BLUE JAYS a
day are still going through and the COMMON RAVENS are still being seen
almost daily. BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEES continue their movement with up to 250
a day being recorded. BROWN CREEPERS have dropped off but 10 were seen on
the 19th. Up to a hundred GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS and 25 RUBY-CROWNED
KINGLETS are being seen daily.
Two EASTERN BLUEBIRDS were seen on the 20th and up to 30 HERMIT THRUSHES a
day are still being seen. AMERICAN ROBINS have started moving in earnest and
peaked at 3000 on the 18th, most are going over just after dawn. CEDAR
WAXWINGS have started to increase and peaked at 175 on the 21st.
Just three species of warblers were seen this week. An ORANGE-CROWNED
WARBLER was banded on the 21st, YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS numbered 20 on the
16th with that date also having 2 BLACKPOLL WARBLERS banded, the latest ever
date for BLACKPOLLS here.
A FIELD SPARROW was seen on the 19th, WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS continue to be
seen and up to 30 WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS could be seen during the week.
DARK-EYED JUNCOS continue to be seen in small numbers and a NORTHERN
CARDINAL was seen twice during the week. Also moving in the early morning
are a few blackbirds. RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS numbered 120 on the 16th, RUSTY
BLACKBIRDS are still continuing their good movement and peaked at 110 on the
18th and 75 on the 21st. COMMON GRACKLES are also moving in reasonable
numbers and 1300 were seen going over on the 16th with 200 or so on most
other days during the week. PURPLE FINCHES are starting to increase and up
to 30 day are being seen. Bird of the week was a DICKCISSEL on the 18th that
flew over calling just after dawn.
For more more sightings, be sure to check out the Quinte Area Bird Report on
the Main Birding page at www.naturestuff.net. And for more news from the
Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory, be sure to visit their website at
www.peptbo.ca .
Terry Sprague
Prince Edward County
tspra...@kos.net
_______________________________________________
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