This is the Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory report for the week of August 24th to August 30th, courtesy of David Okines, Bander in Charge.
The three young GREEN HERONS seem to have left the harbour but occasional GREAT BLUE HERONS are still being seen. A GREEN-WINGED TEAL that was seen in the harbour on the 24th is the only duck species seen this week apart from MALLARDS. BALD EAGLES were seen twice this week and SHARP-SHINNED HAWKS, HARRIERS and BROAD-WINGED HAWKS are starting to move. 1-3 MERLINS are being seen daily. On the 26th a group of 12 RUFFED GROUSE that were seen near the harbour is probably a day record for here. The only shorebirds seen this week were singles of SPOTTED SANDPIPERS on three dates. An AMERICAN WOODCOCK that was caught on the 28th is the first of that species to ever be caught in the falls. It’s been very quiet on the gull front with BONAPARTE’S being seen on just two dates and a GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL was seen on the 30th. CASPIAN TERNS may have moved on as the last one seen was on the 25th. The EASTERN SCREECH-OWL continues to serenade us in the evenings or mornings and COMMON NIGHTHAWKS have only been seen once this week on the evening of the 30th.RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRDS have started to decrease with only 3-5 being seen daily now. OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHERS have been seen twice this week – on the 25th and the 28th, both disappeared soon after being found. All the other regular flycatchers are still present in good numbers and EASTERN WOOD-PEWEES are increasing. The first BLUE-HEADED VIREO of the fall was banded on the 30th and PHILADELPHIA VIREOS arrived on the 24th. RED-EYED VIREOS have increased and about 20 a day are now being seen. A COMMON RAVEN was seen flying over the area on the 29th and the first AMERICAN CROWS of the fall were seen that day as well. A small movement of Hirundines took place early on on the 30th and included 12 PURPLE MARTINS, 200 TREE SWALLOWS, 40 BANK SWALLOWS, 30 CLIFF SWALLOWS and at least 800 BARN SWALLOWS. BLUE-GREY GNATCATCHERS are still to be found and small numbers of VEERY, HERMIT and SWAINSON’S THRUSHES can be found daily. Twenty-one species of warblers were seen during the week and included firsts of NORTHERN PARULA on the 29th, western PALM WARBLER on the 29th and also the 15 BLACKPOLL WARBLERS. Up to 30 MAGNOLIA WARBLERS can be found daily as can up to 10 YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS. BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLERS numbered 12 on the 24th but have dropped off a bit since. A CAPE MAY WARBLER was seen on the 24th, AMERICAN REDSTARTS are increasing a bit and up to 12 a day are being found. WILSON’S WARBLERS are starting to move and 4 CANADA WARBLERS were seen on the 24th. The 30th saw the first SCARLET TANAGERS of the fall and a juvenile WHITE-THROATED SPARROW was banded on the 30th. BOBOLINK numbers are dropping but up to 25 a day can still be seen. Six BROWN-HEADED COWBIRDS that were seen on the 28th is an unusual number of this scarce species in the fall. For more information on the Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory, check out www.peptbo.ca Elsewhere around Prince Edward County, a CAROLINA WREN has been present all week east of Carrying Place. Shorebirds continue to take advantage of low water levels at Main Duck Island where last week, GREATER YELLOWLEGS and numerous SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPERS were present. The big news of course was the arrival of a THICK-BILLED KINGBIRD at nearby Presqu’ile Park which as been seen around the Calf Pasture Point area since August 28th. For birding news around the Prince Edward County area, be sure to click on BIRDING/QUINTE AREA BIRD REPORT from the Main Menu of my website. 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 birdalert@ontbirds.ca For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
