Report from the Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory for the week of April
29 to May 05, courtesy of manager David Okines.
A few raptors flew over on the northerly winds on the 5th and included 40
TURKEY VULTURES, 5 SHARP-SHINNED HAWKS, a COOPER'S HAWK, at least four
RED-SHOULDERED HAWKS, at least 35 BROAD-WINGED HAWKS, 8 RED-TAILED HAWKS and
a light morph ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK.
A single GREATER SCAUP on the 5th is the first one recorded this spring,
offshore the numbers of LONG-TAILED DUCKS and WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS have been
hard to estimate in the choppy waters but are probably remaining in numbers
consistent with last week. The elusive HARLEQUIN DUCKS were actually seen
three times this week, 2 on the 30th, 6 on the 1st and three on the 5th.On
the 4th, a large flock of at least 5000 BONAPARTE'S GULLS flew past and the
flock contained at least one LITTLE GULL. MOURNING DOVES have increased and
now usually number around 30 a day. The BELTED KINGFISHER has been seen
almost daily and a RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER was calling on the 30th.
YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKERS are still being seen occasionally and the number
of NORTHERN FLICKERS has dropped to around 10 or 12 a day. The 5th saw (or
actually heard) the first WILLOW FLYCATCHER of the year and EASTERN
KINGBIRDS are being seen every other day. BLUE JAYS are starting to increase
and up to 25 a day are being seen and the local COMMON RAVENS are becoming
more vocal.
The first PURPLE MARTINS appeared on the 5th and immediately started to
check out the Purple Martin box, which has already been claimed by the local
TREE SWALLOWS. Two BANK SWALLOWS were seen on the 5th and the CLIFF SWALLOWS
have almost finished building their nests on the side of the Observatory; at
least with having over 230 mm of rain so far this spring there's no shortage
of building material for them this year. RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES have
started to be seen and up to 2 have been visiting the feeders all week.
BROWN CREEPERS have almost finished and the over 200 caught this spring is a
record. The HOUSE WRENS have returned in force and can be heard singing all
over the place now and some WINTER WRENS can be heard singing as well.
GOLDEN CROWNED KINGLETS appear to be over and RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS are
nearing the end also.
A pair of BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHERS are active around the banding lab and a
pair of EASTERN BLUEBIRDS were seen on the 29th. HERMIT THRUSHES continue to
be seen and WOOD THRUSHES can be heard singing most mornings just around
sunrise. GRAY CATBIRDS arrived on the 29th and are singing occasionally in
the bushes while up to 8 BROWN THRASHERS are singing daily. Forty CEDAR
WAXWINGS were seen on the 29th and 11 were seen on the 4th.
Twelve species of warblers were seen this week, NASHVILLE WARBLERS are being
seen in ones and twos, a NORTHERN PARULA was seen on the 4th, the first
YELLOW WARBLER arrived on the 30th and 1-3 a day are now being seen. A
MAGNOLIA WARBLER was singing in the woods on the 4th and a BLACK-THROATED
BLUE WARBLER was banded that day as well. YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS numbered
500 on the 29th and 100 the next day but have since decreased to about 20 a
day. Single BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLERS can be heard singing as can the
occasional PINE WARBLER. Low numbers of western PALM WARBLERS can be found
as can the occasional BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER. An OVENBIRD arrive on the
30th, NORTHERN WATERTHRUSHES can occasionally be heard singing in the swampy
part of the woods.
Two to three EASTERN TOWHEES are singing away as are 4-5 FIELD SPARROWS. Two
FOX SPARROWS were banded on the 30th and may be last of that ilk to be seen.
WHITE-THROATED SPARROW numbers are low for this time of the year and peaked
this week at 35 on the 29th. WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS are just staring to sing
but only in ones and twos. DARK-EYED JUNCOS are decreasing with only up to a
dozen being seen now. ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAKS are starting to appear and
four were seen on the 4th. The first BOBOLINK was chattering away on the 5th
and several small groups of 20-50 female RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS are moving
through the area every day. The first BALTIMORE ORIOLE was seen in Point
Traverse woods on the 4th. PURPLE FINCHES are making themselves very obvious
as they sing away in the trees then hit the feeders - they peaked at 80 on
the 2nd. PINE SISKINS continue to be noted and peaked at 10 on the 2nd while
AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES are adding splashes of yellow as they visit the
feeders - there were 100 of them recorded on the 4th. A female EVENING
GROSBEAK visited the feeders on the 2nd and was soon inside the trap.
Elsewhere in Prince Edward County and the Quinte area, the area's first
RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD of the season turned up at Stirling on May 2nd,
and another at Bloomfield two days later. TUFTED TITMOUSE at a feeder on Fry
Road, north of Picton, on May 4th, and a RED-HEADED WOODPECKER at a feeder
along County Road 12 at West Lake yesterday.
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
_______________________________________________
ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial
birding organization.
Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca
For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
