[Ontbirds] Quinte Area Bird Report for the week of October 19-25
This is the Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory report for the week of October 19-25, courtesy of David Okines, Bander in Charge. RED-THROATED LOONS are not common at Prince Edward Point, so 2 seen on the 24th and 5 on the 25th were a surprise. RED-NECKED GREBES were seen on the 19th and 21st and HORNED GREBES are being seen regularly about 3 km up the road. Five GADWALL on the 24th were new for the fall. Not much change in the numbers of WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS and GREATER SCAUP this week, both of which can be difficult to see unless the lake is calm. On the 24th 7 SURF SCOTERS flew past and were new for the fall. LONG-TAILED DUCKS are still uncommon but 19 were seen on the 25th. A few hawks have been moving this week and peak counts were 10 NORTHERN HARRIERS on the 21st, 25 SHARP-SHINNED HAWKS on the 22nd, 4 NORTHERN GOSHAWKS on the 22nd and 80 RED-TAILED HAWKS on the 22nd. Two GOLDEN EAGLES were seen on the 21st and three flew over the next day. A BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER was new for the fall on the 21st and was seen on the rocks near the lighthouse. BARRED OWLS are being seen or trapped on most nights this week and the total banded now stands at a record 19. NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWLS have been slow due to the easterly winds with just a handful on most nights, the exception was the 21st/22nd night when 100 were seen or banded. A YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER was banded on the 20th and a few HAIRY WOODPECKERS a day are starting to appear. On the 24th 2 NORTHERN SHRIKES were found one of which was in the nets and was an adult male (see photo on the website). BLUE-HEADED VIREOS have almost finished moving with several days now between sightings. BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEES are still moving albeit in much smaller numbers of only 30+ a day except for the 19th when 100 were seen. RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES are still common and up to 15 a day are being counted. BROWN CREEPERS had decreased but had a final fling on the 24th when 15 were seen. GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS are trickling through and peaked at 90 on the 21st, RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS peaked at 25 that same day. As is usual in late October, EASTERN BLUEBIRDS are moving and 30 were seen going over on the 20th, 19 went over the next day and one was seen on the 22nd. HERMIT THRUSHES are in smaller numbers and up to 10 a day are being found, AMERICAN ROBINS on the other hand are increasing up to 120 are being seen daily. CEDAR WAXWING numbers are slowly building up and up to 80 a day are being seen. Five species of warblers were seen this week. An ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER was banded on the 19th, and a NORTHERN PARULA was banded the following day. Single BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLERS were seen on the 19th and 21st and 2 late western PALM WARBLERS were seen on the 25th. YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS are still moving though and peaked at 50 on the 20th and 45 the next day. The first AMERICAN TREE SPARROW arrived on the 19th and two more were banded on the 24th. A SAVANNAH SPARROW in the nets on the 22nd was new for this falls banding list, a single FOX SPARROW was seen on the 19th and four were found on the 21st. Both WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS and WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS have all but gone now but DARK-EYED JUNCOS are increasing and peaked at 120 on the 24th. NORTHERN CARDINALS are starting to appear and 1-4 a day are being seen. Icterids continue to move with up to 150 RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS being seen in a day, COMMON GRACKLES are moving in larger numbers with up to 1000 a day going over. Among all the other blackbirds there are a handful of RUSTY BLACKBIRDS being seen with a peak of 103 on the 25th. EASTERN MEADOWLARKS were seen on the 19th and 22nd and were new to the fall. PURPLE FINCHES are still moving with up to 35 a day being recorded. Also being seen this week are HOUSE FINCHES with up to 12 a day being seen. Bulk finches moving this week have been PINE SISKINS, with most days having between 500 and 700 recorded. The 22nd saw a flock of 22 EVENING GROSBEAKS fly over followed several hours later by a group of 5 attending the feeders. PEPTBO will close for the season after banding next Wednesday (the 31st). Elsewhere around Prince Edward County, CAROLINA WRENS were seen in two locations this past week. One is coming to a feeder at South Bay, and another was seen this morning along a fence row west of 23 Sprague Road, Big Island, near Demorestville. EVENING GROSBEAKS were seen at Lake on the Mountain and at Big Island. A female NORTHERN SHOVELER at the Bayshore Trail in Belleville, BALD EAGLE at Sheba’s Island and at Black River. There was a late BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER at Prince Edward Point on the 22nd where 25 WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS were also seen the same day. And bird feeder operators across the region are reporting large numbers of PINE SISKINS, ranging from a couple dozen to well over 100. For birding news around the Prince Edward County area, be sure to click on BIRDING/QUINTE AREA BIRD REPORT
[Ontbirds] Quinte Area Bird Report for the week of October 12-18
This is the Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory report for the week of October 12 to October 18, courtesy of David Okines, Bander in Charge. HORNED GREBES are starting to appear off the point now and up to 15 have been seen in a day. The DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS have decreased to between 2 and 500 now. TURKEY VULTURES (120) flew over on the 12th and 65 on the 16th were the peaks. Three NORTHERN PINTAILS flew past on the 16th and GREATER SCAUP had increased to 2000 offshore by the 17th. WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS numbered 140 on the 15th and 250 on the 17th, there are probably more than that offshore, but most are well offshore and hidden by the waves. A BLACK SCOTER was seen on the 12th as were the first LONG-TAILED DUCKS of the fall; numbers of this species are slowly increasing and 20 were seen on the 17th. A few raptors were moving on the 16th and included singles of RED-SHOULDERED HAWK, NORTHERN GOSHAWK and a late BROAD-WINGED HAWK. A PEREGRINE FALCON was seen on the 14th. An EASTERN SCREECH-OWL has been heard occasionally during owling and the occasional BARRED OWL has also been seen. NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWLS continue to move but its been slower this week. Three nights were lost to the weather but 51 were trapped on the 12/13th and 85 were trapped on the 16/17th. MOURNING DOVES have gone and only one bird was seen all week. A YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER was seen on the 13th and a few HAIRY WOODPECKERS are starting to appear. YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHERS were trapped on the 12th and 13th and up to 8 EASTERN PHOEBES are being seen around the area. The last BLUE-HEADED VIREO to be seen was on the 13th. BLUE JAY numbers are now down to just 10-15 a day and the occasional COMMON RAVEN puts in an appearance. BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEES are definitely moving and between 70 and 100 are being seen daily; the 16th though saw over 500 go through. Up to 7 RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES are still being seen and the 17th saw 15 BROWN CREEPERS in the area. Both GOLDEN and RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS have dropped to just 40 or less being seen a day now. The last SWAINSON’S THRUSH was seen on the 12th but up to 25 HERMIT THRUSHES a day are still moving through. AMERICAN ROBIN numbers are staring to pick up as we get nearer the end of October and peaked at 210 on the 16th. 3 AMERICAN PIPITS were seen on the 12th and 2 GRAY CATBIRDS were seen on the 13th. Just four species of warblers were seen this week. A NASHVILLE WARBLER was banded on the 12th, 2 BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLERS were seen on the 16th, and an AMERICAN REDSTART was seen on the 12th; other than that, a few YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS have been moving with peaks of 42 on the 12th and 18 on the 16th. Sparrows have been trickling through but no big numbers have been seen. The first 2 FOX SPARROWS of the fall were banded on the 13th and another was banded on the 17th. NORTHERN CARDINALS were caught on the 16th and 18th. Icterids have been moving this week and peak counts were 100 RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS on the 17th and 4200 COMMON GRACKLES and 70 RUSTY BLACKBIRDS on the 16th. PURPLE FINCHES continue to pass through with peak counts of 45 on the 12th, 60 on the 13th and 20 on the 16th. Small groups of PINE SISKINS are moving over the area but not often stopping. Elsewhere around Prince Edward County, the season’s first reported NORTHERN SHRIKE was made on Bradley Crossroad, east of Lake on the Mountain, on Wednesday. Four SANDHILL CRANES were present in a field west of 23 Sprague Road, Big Island early in the morning of October 13th. A FOX SPARROW is visiting a feeder in Belleville, and two WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS are still present at a Big Island feeder. There is good birding to be had at Wellington Harbour, where late last week there was a GREEN HERON, several PIED-BILLED GREBES, an AMERICAN WIGEON, a LESSER YELLOWLEGS and about 30 GREEN-WINGED TEAL. 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. Prince Edward County is situated south of Belleville and Trenton. There are five access points – C.R. 64 from Brighton, Highway 33 at Carrying Place, Highway 62 at Belleville, Highway 49 at Deseronto, and Highway 33 at Glenora. To reach Prince Edward Point, take County Road 10 from Picton to Cherry Valley and Milford, then C.R. 13 at South Bay to Prince Edward Point. 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/
[Ontbirds] Quinte Area Bird Report for the week of October 05 - 11
This is the Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory report for the week of October 05 to October 11, courtesy of David Okines, Bander in Charge. Small groups of CANADA GEESE are still moving but no big days have occurred yet, the best day this week was the 7th when 77 went over. A few AMERICAN BLACK DUCKS have been moving with counts of 13 on the 8th, 3 on the 10th and one in the harbour on the 11th. GREATER SCAUP numbered 80 offshore on the 7th. WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS are now being seen daily, albeit in small numbers. TURKEY VULTURES have started to move in earnest high counts of 150 on the 6th and 120 on the 8th. Our semi resident OSPREY finally left on the 5th after having been present for nearly 5 weeks. Raptor migration has continued to be slow with peak counts of 30 SHARP-SHINNED HAWKS on the 6th, a NORTHERN GOSHAWK on the 5th, a RED-SHOULDERED HAWK on the 6th and 21 RED-TAILED HAWKS also on the 6th. PEREGRINE FALCONS were seen on the 5th and 6th. The only shorebird seen this week was a LESSER YELLOWLEGS on the 11th. EASTERN SCREECH OWLS have occasionally been heard while owling and 5 BARRED OWLS were trapped on the 8th. NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWLS continue to move and 300 were banded during the week with peaks of 91 on the night of the 7th/8th and 97 the following night. A RED-HEADED WOODPECKER was banded on the 7th and a RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER was banded on the 5th. A few YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKERS have been around with a peak of 8 on the 7th, although the numbers of them are now starting to drop off. An EASTERN WOOD PEWEE was seen on the 5th and a late LEAST FLYCATCHER was banded on the 7th. BLUE-HEADED VIREOS are still moving and peaked at 45 on the 7th, RED-EYED VIREOS were seen on the 5th and 11th. Single HORNED LARKS flew over on the 5th and 10th. BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEES continue to move through with a peak count of 150 on the 11th, other days have had 50-75 present. RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH numbers are still high with 10-15 being seen daily, WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCHES numbered 10 on the 7th, BROWN CREEPERS continue to trickle through with up to 17 a day being banded. A late HOUSE WREN was banded on the 5th and re-sighted on the 8th. No really big days occurred this week for the kinglets but RUBY-CROWNED peaked at 135 on the 8th and GOLDEN-CROWNED peaked at 90 the same day. A late BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER was photographed in the woods on the 8th. Three EASTERN BLUEBIRDS were present in the evening of the 7th, a single bird was observed on the 10th and 3 were present the next day. GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSHES have almost stopped moving and SWAINSON’S THRUSHES have slowed down. HERMIT THRUSHES on the other hand continue in good numbers with a peak of 50 on the 7th. AMERICAN ROBINS meanwhile are starting to increase with up to 15 a day being seen. Fifteen species of warblers were seen during the week. Interesting warblers during the week were - TENNESSEES on the 6th and 7th, a NORTHERN PARULA on the 10th, a CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER on the 8th, a western PALM WARBLER on the 5th, a yellow PALM WARBLER on the 7th (banded) and a late BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER on the 6th. A late OVENBIRD on the 10th. Best warbler of the week was a very late BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER which was banded on the 11 - the last one seen was back in late August. CHIPPING SPARROWS are increasing and up to 7 a day are being found, FIELD SPARROWS were seen on the 7th to the 9th and a LINCOLN’S SPARROW was found near the harbour on the 6th. The 7th saw a few sparrows moving with peak counts of - WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS 40, WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS 18, DARK-EYED JUNCOS 30. The first NORTHERN CARDINAL of the fall was banded on the 9th. A few flocks of icterids are starting to move with 200 COMMON GRACKLES, 100 RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS and 65 RUSTY BLACKBIRDS being seen on the 11th. PURPLE FINCHES are still plentiful and peaked at 45 on the 7th and 8th. PINE SISKINS numbered 150 on the 7th. PEPTBO has an Owling weekend this weekend (12th/13th) where you are welcome to come down for a few hours in the evening to see some cute little Saw-whets in the hand. We also have our annual dinner and speaker (Ron Tozer) on the 20th in Picton, please see our website for more details (www.peptbo.ca ) Elsewhere around Prince Edward County, seen at Wellington Harbour today, GREEN HERON, several PIED-BILLED GREBES, LESSER YELLOWLEGS, AMERICAN WIGEON and about 30 GREEN-WINGED TEAL. A RED-NECKED GREBE was present just north of Prince Edward Point yesterday. Along Fry Road north of Picton, over 40 PINE SISKINS are coming to a feeder there. The last of the GREAT EGRETS seem to have left Indian Island in the Bay of Quinte across from Trenton. Only 8 were seen there Monday after a high of 78 in late September. Two SANDHILL CRANES were present near Demorestville on the 6th. 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
[Ontbirds] Quinte Area Bird Report for the week of September 28-October 04
This is the Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory report for the week of September 28 to October 04, courtesy of David Okines, Bander in Charge. Our apologies for the delay. DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT numbers are starting to drop and generally only about 1000 remain on the offshore shoal now. Daily, a few small groups of CANADA GEESE can be seen flying over. In the harbour on the 1st an AMERICAN WIGEON was present, and on the 3rd a group of three NORTHERN SHOVELERS flew past. The 28th saw a flock of 210 GREATER SCAUP head south but no others were seen all week. A CACKLING GOOSE flew over in a flock of CANADA GEESE on the 28th. The OSPREY continues to be present in the harbour, MERLINS and SHARP-SHINNED HAWKS have been present all week and two small movements of raptors occurred during the week. On the 29th, birds seen included 200 TURKEY VULTURES, 2 BALD EAGLES, 65 SHARP-SHINNED HAWKS, 4 COOPER’S HAWKS, 2 NORTHERN GOSHAWKS, a late BROAD-WINGED HAWK, 45 RED-TAILED HAWKS and the first 3 RED-SHOULDERED HAWKS of the fall. The second movement on the 1st had the same species, but only half of the numbers of the above birds present. The EASTERN SCREECH-OWL has been calling most nights and the 2nd saw 2 LONG-EARED OWLS fly over at night. NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWLS, numbering 245, were seen during the week. One to two BELTED KINGFISHERS have been present daily in the harbour. Late YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHERS were banded on the 28th and 4th. BLUE-HEADED VIREOS numbered 30 and 20 on the 1st and 2nd and a late PHILADELPHIA VIREO was banded on the 4th. BLUE JAY numbers have decreased with a peak of 820 on the 4th. Three TREE SWALLOWS flew over on the 1st. It looks as though BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEES are starting to move as 150 were recorded on the 4th with 20-30 a day being seen before that. RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES are still moving with up to 15 a day being seen, WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCHES are also moving with a peak of 10 being seen on the 1st. BROWN CREEPERS are starting to pick up as well with up to 25 a day being seen. Seventeen WINTER WRENS were recorded on the 2nd but 1-5 is more normal during the week. A small push of kinglets began on the 1st when 250 GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS were seen along with 80 RUBY-CROWNED, the following day RUBY-CROWNS numbered 120. The last VEERY was seen on the 28th and GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSHES have started to decline, as have SWAINSON’S THRUSHES. HERMIT THRUSHES are starting to increase though and they peaked at 26 on the 2nd. A surprise in the nets on the 4th was a very late WOOD THRUSH. The 2nd and 3rd saw flocks of 7 and 4 AMERICAN PIPITS going over. Sixteen warbler species were seen during the week. ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS were seen on 5 days this week with 2 birds on the 1st and singles on the other days. Two NORTHERN PARULAS were seen on the 29th and 1st with two other dates having singletons. Fifteen to 30 BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLERS were seen daily and YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS had a good movement for a few days with peaks of 200, 300 and 250 on the 30th, 1st and 2nd. BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLERS peaked at 15 on the 1st and single PINE WARBLERS were seen on the 2nd and 3rd. A yellow PALM WARBLER was banded on the 1st and AMERICAN REDSTARTS peaked at 6 on the 1st. A single SCARLET TANAGER was noted on the 1st. A FIELD SPARROW on the 2nd was the first of that species since August. SONG SPARROWS numbered 20 on the 1st and a LINCOLN’S SPARROW was found by the harbour dock on the 1st. Three SWAMP SPARROWS were seen on the 1st. WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS have increased and up to 60 a day have been seen in a day, and a small handful of WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS have been seen mixed in with them as well. DARK-EYED JUNCOS are slow to get moving and peaked at 10 on the 2nd and 3rd. A few Icterids are starting to go over in the mornings and have included up to 60 RUSTY BLACKBIRDS, 40 RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS and 30 COMMON GRACKLES; all three of these species should increase in the next few days. Small numbers of PURPLE FINCHES continue to move with up to 15 a day being seen. PINE SISKINS suddenly started moving, and large flocks of up to a hundred were seen from the 28th to the 30th with a peak day count of 450 on the 30th, none were seen after that. Elsewhere around Prince Edward County, the GREAT EGRET roost on Indian Island in the Bay of Quinte near Trenton dropped in numbers vey quickly from the 78 birds counted on September 26th, to only 20 on October 4th. Two SANDHILL CRANES were seen yesterday near Demorestville. 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. Prince Edward County is situated south of Belleville and Trenton. There are five access points – C.R. 64 from Brighton, Highway 33 at Carrying Place, Highway 62 at Belleville, Highway 49 at Deseronto, and Highway 33 at Glenora. To reach Prince Edward Point, take County Road 10
[Ontbirds] Quinte Area Bird Report for the week of September 21-27
This is the Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory report for the week of September 21 to September 27, courtesy of David Okines, Bander in Charge. A few CANADA GEESE were moving on the 24th (65) and 27th (200), 2 AMERICAN BLACK DUCKS seen on the 21st were new for the fall. WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS were seen on the 24th (7) and 27th (1) and up to 12 COMMON MERGANSERS have been seen near the lighthouse. The semi-resident OSPREY has been around the harbour all week and a migrant one flew over on the 23rd. Raptor numbers have been low all week but included a NORTHERN GOSHAWK on the 25th and a female PEREGRINE FALCON on the 26th. Three LESSER YELLOWLEGS were seen on the 25th and Single SOLITARY SANDPIPERS were seen on the 21st and 22nd. MOURNING DOVES increased to 16 on the 21st. The EASTERN SCREECH OWL has been heard occasionally during the week and NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWLS are starting to trickle through with 30 on the 24th being the peak, but we have had several nights without any being seen. A RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD has been seen most days at the feeder. YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKERS are now moving and peak counts during the week were 25 on the 24th and 20 on the 27th. NORTHERN FLICKERS have picked up and peaked at 15 on the 24th with a flicker intergrade being banded on the 25th. The only flycatchers this week were EASTERN WOOD-PEWEES and EASTERN PHOEBE with the latter peaking at 12 on the 27th. Forty BLUE-HEADED VIREOS were observed on the 24th and 30 were counted on the 27th, only a small handful of RED-EYED VIREOS were present all week apart from 20 on the 24th. BLUE JAYS continued to move with most days seeing over a 1000 a day going over, the peak count was 2000 on the 22nd. A single TREE SWALLOW was seen on the 23rd. BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEES continue to be present in good numbers with up to 20 a day being seen. RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES are another species still being seen in good numbers and up to 25 a day are being seen. BROWN CREEPERS are starting to appear and 15 were counted on the 24th. HOUSE WRENS are still being seen and WINTER WRENS numbered 7 on the 24th. RUBY and GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS numbers are building and 40 of each were observed on the 27th. VEERYS continue to trickle through but SWAINSON’S and GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSHES are starting to increase, with GRAY-CHEEKS peaking at 40 on the 24th and SWAINSON’S at 55 on that same day. HERMIT THRUSHES are also starting to pick up and 13 were observed on the 27th. The variety of warblers continues and 19 species were observed during the week. 1-2 TENNESSEE’S were seen almost daily and ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS were seen on the 24th and 27th. NORTHERN PARULAS were noted on the 22nd and 26th, BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLERS are now moving and 80 were counted on the 27th, YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS are trickling through with a peak of 65 on the 24th, the 27th held at least 30 BLACK-THROATED GREENS in the area. A late NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH was banded on the 26th. Last week’s HOODED WARBLER was retrapped again on the 21st. A mid morning arrival of CHIPPING SPARROWS took place on the 27th when 50 were seen on the lawn, among them were at least 40 DARK-EYED JUNCOS. Single SWAMP SPARROWS were seen on the 24th and 26th and WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS peaked at 15 on the 24th, the first WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW of the fall was trapped on the 27th. One or two ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAKS are still being seen and this fall’s only INDIGO BUNTING so far, was seen on the 22nd. Icterids have been scarce but the first 2 RUSTY BLACKBIRDS flew over on the 27th. Finches are continuing in good numbers with PURPLE FINCHES peaking at 40 on the 24th, PINE SISKINS peaked at 65 on the 27th and AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES peaked at 1000 on the 22nd. Elsewhere around Prince Edward County, a GREAT EGRET roost is being monitored at Indian Island in the middle of the Bay of Quinte near Trenton where a high of 78 GREAT EGRETS were counted on September 26th. The egrets can be viewed through a spotting scope from shore. At Goodrich-Loomis Conservation Area, north of Brighton, 4 WINTER WRENS, PILEATED WOODPECKER and RED-TAILED HAWK were among the species seen there on the 23rd. 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. Prince Edward County is situated south of Belleville and Trenton. There are five access points – C.R. 64 from Brighton, Highway 33 at Carrying Place, Highway 62 at Belleville, Highway 49 at Deseronto, and Highway 33 at Glenora. To reach Prince Edward Point, take County Road 10 from Picton to Cherry Valley and Milford, then C.R. 13 at South Bay to Prince Edward Point. 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
[Ontbirds] Quinte Area Bird Report for the week of September 14-20
This is the Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory report for the week of September 14 to September 20, courtesy of David Okines, Bander in Charge. Three COMMON LOONS flew over on the 10th, while offshore the number of DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS being seen daily, varies between 3 and 10 thousand. A GREEN HERON was seen flying over on the 12th. A few CANADA GEESE were moving on the 9th and 10th and MALLARDS around the harbour increased to 23 on the 11th and two male WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS flew over on the 10th. A GREAT BLUE HERON can be seen most days in the harbour and a GREEN HERON was present on the 15th. Up to 24 CANADA GEESE have been seen in a day but no movements took place this week. The first LESSER SCAUP of the fall was seen off of Point Traverse on the 20th and 3 WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS flew past on the 16th, five COMMON MERGANSERS stopped briefly on the rocks near the lighthouse on the 17th and a single RED-BREASTED MERGANSER flew past on the 18th. OSPREYS and BALD EAGLES continue to frequent the harbour area all week and up to 3 NORTHERN HARRIERS a day have been seen going over. Two COOPER’S HAWKS were seen on the 16th with one of them being banded while a PEREGRINE FALCON was seen on the 17th. Shorebirds were scarce this week with just singles of SPOTTED and SOLITARY SANDPIPER being seen. A YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO escaped from the nets on the 17th. Owling has commenced and 6 NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWLS were banded on the night of the 19th/20th but few are ever caught in September. Our website at www.peptbo.ca will be updated daily with the total number of Saw-whets banded the night before.One or two RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRDS are still being seen daily. The first YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER of the fall was banded on the 16th with another bird being seen the next day. NORTHERN FLICKERS are starting to move and up to 6 a day are now being observed. Late flycatchers seen this week included YELLOW-BELLIED on the 15th, LEAST on the 16th and GREAT-CRESTED on the 14th and 15th. BLUE-HEADED VIREOS are becoming commoner and late WARBLING VIREOS were seen on the 15th and 19th. BLUE JAYS are increasing and peaked at 2500 on the 17th. RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES are still moving and 25 on the 17th was the peak count while WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCHES are now starting to be seen regularly. The first WINTER WREN of the fall was banded on the 14th with another being trapped on the 20th. GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS arrived on the 17th when 8 were present. A late BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER was seen at Point Traverse on the 15th GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSHES peaked at 10 on the 19th and SWAINSON’S THRUSHES peaked at 18 on the 16th. Twenty species of warblers were seen during the week. The second TENNESSEE WARBLER of the month was seen on the 19th and the first ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER of the fall was also seen on the 19th. Two NORTHERN PARULAS were seen during the week and MAGNOLIA WARBLERS are starting to drop off. YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS are starting to increase and 35 were noted on the 19th. A BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER was seen on the 15th as were 6 western PALM WARBLERS. A late NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH was banded on the 14th, and a HOODED WARBLER that was banded on the 20th is only the second one ever banded in the fall here. Three SCARLET TANAGERS were present on the 19th. WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS are now commoner and peaked at 15 on the 16th and 19th, the first DARK-EYED JUNCO of the fall was seen on the 15th and one was banded on the 17th. ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAKS were seen on the 15th and 17th. PURPLE FINCHES continue to move and peaked at 30 on the 15th, AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES continue to move in good numbers and up to 250 a day are being seen or banded. Best birds of the week were two GOLDEN EAGLES that flew over on the 19th, they were only a couple of days off of being the earliest ones ever in the fall. Our annual fall fundraising dinner is only 5 weeks away, Ron Tozer is our guest speaker, please see our website for details (www.peptbo.ca ). Elsewhere around Prince Edward County, DARK-EYED JUNCOS are just starting to appear. In addition to the individual seen at Prince Edward Point on the 15th, another turned up on Fry Road north of Picton on the 18th. BALD EAGLES were seen this week at Lake on the Mountain and South Bay. A juvenile YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER is coming to a feeder at South Bay, and many bird feeder operators are now reporting PURPLE FINCHES as this species continues to move through the area. A RED-SHOULDERED HAWK was present along the Doe Lake Trail at Frontenac Provincial Park on the 16th. 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. Prince Edward County is situated south of Belleville and Trenton. There are five access points – C.R. 64 from Brighton, Highway 33 at Carrying Place, Highway 62 at Belleville, Highway 49 at Deseronto, and Highway 33 at Glenora. To
[Ontbirds] Quinte Area Bird Report for the week of September 7-13
This is the Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory report for the week of September 07 to September 13, courtesy of David Okines, Bander in Charge. Three COMMON LOONS flew over on the 10th, while offshore the number of DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS being seen daily, varies between 3 and 10 thousand. A GREEN HERON was seen flying over on the 12th. A few CANADA GEESE were moving on the 9th and 10th and MALLARDS around the harbour increased to 23 on the 11th and two male WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS flew over on the 10th. An OSPREY has been seen around the harbour all week and up to 7 BALD EAGLES a day are being noted. SHARP-SHINNED HAWKS are starting to increase and peaked at 12 on the 10th,. Other raptor migration has been slow but the only AMERICAN KESTREL of the month was seen on the 12th. Apart from the occasional SPOTTED or SOLITARY SANDPIPER, shorebirds on the ground have been non-existent; however, a few flyovers have been seen including 7 SANDERLING on the 11th, 2 BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPERS on the 9th (only the 11th record for here) and 12 HUDSONIAN GODWITS also on the 9th. Only one COMMON NIGHTHAWK was seen this week, on the 10th. Flycatchers have almost all gone with just EASTERN WOOD-PEWEES and EASTERN PHOEBES left to move through. BLUE-HEADED VIREOS numbered 10 on the 7th, and a late WARBLING VIREO was seen on the 10th. BLUE JAY migration has started, with the first real movement occurring on the 11th when 350 were seen with 400 moving the next day. RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES numbered 20 on the 10th and a WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH was seen on the 12th. The first BROWN CREEPER of the fall was banded on the 7th with another being seen on the 10th. RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS arrived on the 9th and 10th and will increase during the next week or so. A handful of thrushes was seen during the week with a peak count of 15 SWAINSON’S THRUSHES on the 7th. Eighteen species of warblers were noted during the week. No real movements took place but peak counts were made of 12 MAGNOLIAS on the 12th, 10 BLACKPOLLS on the 11th and 12th and 11 BLACK-THROATED BLUES on the 10th. Interesting warblers were CAPE MAY on the 11th, a BLACKBURNIAN on the 9th and a PINE on the 11th. Three different SCARLET TANAGERS were seen in the same tree during the morning of the 12th, two LINCOLN’S SPARROWS were seen on the 9th and WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS are becoming more regular. Ten to 20 PURPLE FINCHES are being seen daily and the first PINE SISKIN of the fall was seen on the 11th. AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES are definitely moving with over 750 being banded during the week. The peak daily counts were 300 on the 11th and 400 on the 12th. Our annual fall fundraising dinner is only 5 weeks away. Ron Tozer is our guest speaker. Please see our website for details (www.peptbo.ca). Elsewhere around Prince Edward County, 13 GREAT EGRETS were present this morning in a cove at Peat’s Point, just south of Belleville. A BARRED OWL was seen at Lake on the Mountain yesterday, and a BALD EAGLE flew over the same lake yesterday. Some distance east of Lake on the Mountain, near Bongard’s Crossroad, a well described SUMMER TANAGER was seen on the 6th. 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. Prince Edward County is situated south of Belleville and Trenton. There are five access points – C.R. 64 from Brighton, Highway 33 at Carrying Place, Highway 62 at Belleville, Highway 49 at Deseronto, and Highway 33 at Glenora. To reach Prince Edward Point, take County Road 10 from Picton to Cherry Valley and Milford, then C.R. 13 at South Bay to Prince Edward Point. 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/
[Ontbirds] Quinte Area Bird Report for the week of September 06
This is the Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory report for the week of August 30th to September 06, courtesy of David Okines, Bander in Charge. DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS are plentiful offshore with up to 8000 being seen daily. A BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON was seen in the harbour on the 1st and 2nd and two GREEN HERONS flew over on the 1st. Six MUTE SWANS seen offshore on the 5th may be the largest number ever observed here of this increasing species. One to three MALLARDS are being seen daily but 32 were noted on the 5th, no other duck species were noted this week. NORTHERN HARRIERS have been seen going over all week and SHARP-SHINNED HAWKS are becoming commoner. The first COOPER'S HAWK of the fall was seen on the 2nd. BALD EAGLES have also been moving or even hanging around and 12 were seen going over on the 1st including a flock of 7, all seen that day were young of the year birds. Shorebird activity has been quiet but four KILLDEER flew over on the 5th, a SOLITARY SANDPIPER has been seen on and off and a SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER was seen on the 31st. Gull numbers are picking up and GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULLS (see photo by Jeff Haffner) are being seen almost daily now. A YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO was seen behind the Observatory on the 5th and a BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO was caught on the 6th. The EASTERN SCREECH-OWL that was banded last week is still hanging around and the white outer two primaries can easily be seen when it takes flight. COMMON NIGHTHAWK passage continues to be slow but 16 were seen on the 1st and 4 were seen on the 6th. All the regular flycatchers except EASTERN KINGBIRDS continue to trickle through. A YELLOW-THROATED VIREO seen on the 5th is only one of a small handful of fall records for here. RED-EYED VIREOS are moving in reasonable numbers and peaked at 35 on the 2nd. BLUE JAYS are starting to move with a peak count of 30 on the 5th. Eight TREE SWALLOWS on the 5th and 2 BARN SWALLOWS on the 1st were the only swallow records this week. The first GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSH of the fall was banded on the 1st as was the first WOOD THRUSH. Up to 8 SWAINSON’S THRUSHES are being seen daily. Twenty-two species of warblers were seen during the week. No big warbler movements have really taken place yet apart from the 5th when 150 BLACKPOLL WARBLERS were seen. High day counts included MAGNOLIA WARBLER with 20 on the 1st, western PALM WARBLER with 11 on the 5th and AMERICAN REDSTART with 12 on the 5th. New species for the fall were PINE WARBLER on the 2nd and CONNECTICUT WARBLER on the 5th. The first LINCOLN’S SPARROW of the fall was seen on the 5th and occasional WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS are being seen. BOBOLINKS have now finished going over. PURPLE FINCHES are picking up a bit again with 20 on the 5th being the peak count, AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES are also starting to move and over 200 were banded during the week with the 5th having at least 225 being recorded. For more information on the Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory, check out www.peptbo.ca . Elsewhere around Prince Edward County, a hatch year FRANKLIN’S GULL was seen and photographed near Amherstview in the Kingston area on September 5th, and a female SUMMER TANAGER was observed near Bongard’s Crossroad, east of Lake on the Mountain on the 6th. Up to 4 MERLINS have been present along Sprague Road, Big Island, near Demorestville. Two CAROLINA WRENS were present for several days in Picton, but have since moved on, and another has been in the Carrying Place area. A NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH was seen at Lake on the Mountain on the 2nd and eight COMMON NIGHTHAWKS passed over the same area a day earlier. 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/
[Ontbirds] Quinte Area Bird Report for the week of August 30
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/
[Ontbirds] Quinte Area Bird Report for the week of August 24th
This is the Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory report for the week of August 12 to August 23rd, courtesy of David Okines, Bander in Charge. This first update covers the 11 days since we opened. The Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory opened for the fall season on the 13th of August and will continue until October 31st. COMMON LOONS were seen on the 11th and 13th and an AMERICAN BITTERN was seen on the 11th. Up to 6 GREAT BLUE HERONS have been frequenting the harbour as have three young GREEN HERONS. CANADA GEESE (40) were moving on the 23rd and up to three MUTE SWANS have been seen offshore. Up to 9 MALLARD have been seen around the harbour and three WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS seen on the 22nd were nearly 3 weeks earlier than last year. The only other ducks were 6 RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS on the 18th. OSPREYS were seen on three dates and a BALD EAGLE flew over on the 11th. A young male NORTHERN GOSHAWK was seen on the 16th and trapped two days later. Occasional small groups of BROAD-WINGED HAWKS have been seen going over. On the 18th a male PEREGRINE FALCON was attacking a RING-BILLED GULL in the harbour but was unsuccessful. Seven species of shorebird were seen during the period and included 3 LESSER YELLOWLEGS on the 16th, a SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER on the 18th and a PECTORAL SANDPIPER on the 11th. Small groups of BONAPARTE’S GULLS have been frequenting the rocks near the lighthouse and have been mostly adults. A BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO trapped on the 13th was probably one of the local adults. An EASTERN SCREECH OWL has been heard most nights lately and was banded on the 21st. The COMMON NIGHTHAWK passage has been quiet so far and peaked at just 3 on the 19th, larger numbers should be seen in the next few nights. RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRDS have been seen in good numbers and up to 12 a day are visiting the feeders. BELTED KINGFISHERS have been vociferous all week and the one that was trapped on the 23rd is the first banded since 2007. Flycatchers are moving and the 7 usual species being seen in good numbers. WARBLING VIREOS are never common but they have been banded in good numbers this week and RED-EYED VIREOS are starting to appear with a peak count of 8 on the 21st. BARN SWALLOWS were moving between the 13th and 16th when the peak count of 300 were counted. The local BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEES appear to have had a good breeding season and up to 30 a day are being seen. RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES are also having a good year and the peak count was 25 on the 19th with most days seeing 10 or more in the bushes. THRUSHES are moving a bit earlier this year and several VEERY, SWAINSON’S and HERMIT THRUSHES have been banded. Nineteen species of warblers were seen during the period including CAPE MAY on the 18th, TENNESSEES on three dates and a BAY-BREASTED on the 21st. YELLOW WARBLER numbers are starting to drop as MAGNOLIA WARBLERS increase with up to 30 a day of the latter being recorded. YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS were early and were seen from the 11th onwards with up to 5 in a day being seen. Twelve AMERICAN REDSTARTS were counted on the 18th and 1-3 CANADA WARBLERS are being seen daily. A very early WHITE-THROATED SPARROW was seen on the 18th. BOBOLINKS are moving in good numbers with up to a 120 being seen in a day. PURPLE FINCHES are around in good numbers and up to 35 are being seen daily. And finally a CAROLINA WREN was banded on the 15th and is only the third fall banding record. For more information on the Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory, check out www.peptbo.ca 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/
[Ontbirds] Quinte Area Bird Report for May 18-24
This is the Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory Report for the week of May 11-17, courtesy of David Okines, bander in charge: A RED-THROATED LOON spent the afternoon offshore on the 18th and 2-4 COMMON LOONS have been seen daily. DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS have increased to over a thousand on the offshore islands. One to three GREAT BLUE HERONS have been seen almost daily and GREEN HERONS were seen on the 22nd and 24th, while a BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON was calling in the harbour on the 19th. BRANT (175) flew past on the 18th and a few flocks of CANADA GEESE have been heading north. Offshore, duck numbers have been up and down depending on the day, with 1500 WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS being noted on the 23rd while LONG-TAILED DUCKS peaked at 1000 on the 19th, and RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS peaking at 1000 on the 20th. Seven species of shorebirds were seen this week including on the 18th, 3 SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS and an UPLAND SANDPIPER fly by. A few LEAST SANDPIPERS have been seen almost daily and a peak of 30 were noted on the 18th. A few BONAPARTE’S GULLS have been seen offshore and CASPIAN TERNS are being seen daily. On the 21st, 13 COMMON TERNS flew past in one flock with 2 being seen the next day. Single RED-HEADED WOODPECKERS were seen on three dates with the 22nd having 2 birds present. The expected species of flycatchers have been seen all week but only in low numbers apart from 10 LEAST and 10 GREAT CRESTED on the 21st. A YELLOW-THROATED VIREO was seen on the 21st and RED-EYED VIREOS peaked at 20 on the 20th. A HORNED LARK was seen on the 23rd is this spring’s only record so far. An EASTERN BLUEBIRD was seen on the 24th and GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSHES were first seen on the 18th with SWAINSON’S THRUSHES being seen in small numbers all week. A late HERMIT THRUSH was banded on the 19th. GRAY CATBIRDS, numbering 20-40, have been seen each day and the first young of the year EUROPEAN STARLINGS were seen on the 23rd. Although it is now late in the season, 24 species of warbler were seen during the week. BREWSTER’S WARBLERS were seen on the 18th and 21st and up to 20 Tennessees have been seen daily. Although nearly finished, NASHVILLE WARBLERS continue to be seen and on the 20th, 10 NORTHERN PARULAS were seen. MAGNOLIA WARBLERS continue to move and peaked this week at 85 on the 21st A late CAPE MAY was banded on the 19th. Around 20-30 BLACKPOLLS are being recorded daily in the Cedar Woods and BLACK-AND-WHITES are still to be found in Traverse woods. Up to 18 AMERICAN REDSTARTS a day are being found but OVENBIRD numbers are dropping. A CONNECTICUT was singing near Traverse woods on the 22nd and MOURNING WARBLERS are still being banded early most mornings. Single HOODED WARBLERS were seen on the 18th and 21st with two singing males present on the 24th. One to eight CANADA WARBLERS a day are being seen. Twelve LINCOLN’S SPARROWS were noted on the 19th but numbers have since declined. WHITE-THROATED and WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS were seen during the week but are now rarely seen. A late DARK-EYED JUNCO was seen at the end of the harbour on the 22nd. The pair of ORCHARD ORIOLES are still being reported from the far side of the harbour and are undoubtedly now breeding over there. Good birds seen during the week was a male SUMMER TANAGER in the tree behind the observatory on the 19th and a WILLET flew over the Observatory on the 23rd and landed briefly in the harbour on the 23rd. The WILLET is the first spring record and only the fourth seen ever in the national wildlife area, with the last one being seen way back in 1984. BEYOND PRINCE EDWARD POINT: An adult BALD EAGLE was present along the Millennium Trail at Consecon Lake on May 19th. Other species of note during the week included BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO at Lake on the Mountain, UPLAND SANDPIPER at Snider Road in Ameliasburgh, TRUMPETER SWAN at Beaver Meadow Wildlife Management Area, and COMMON LOONS nesting at Big Island. A PEREGRINE FALCON was seen at 7:00 p.m. along the Dunes Boardwalk Trail at Sandbanks Provincial Park last evening. Daily bird sightings can be seen on the Quinte Area Bird Report at www.naturestuff.net . News from the Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory can be seen on their website at www.peptbo.ca . Terry Sprague 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/
[Ontbirds] Quinte Area Bird Report for May 10th
Area Bird Report at http://www.naturestuff.net . News from the Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory can be seen on their website at http://www.peptbo.ca . 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/
[Ontbirds] Quinte Area Bird Report for the week of April 20 to April 26, 2012
This is the Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory Report for the week of April 20-26, courtesy of David Okines, bander in charge: COMMON LOONS continue to be seen daily. A WOOD DUCK was seen on the 20th but the nesting birds are being very secretive. WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS are still offshore and peaked this week at 450 on the 23rd, that day also saw 1300 LONG-TAILED DUCKS moving. BUFFLEHEAD numbers around the lighthouse area are holding steady at around 20 birds but the numbers should start decreasing soon as they move towards their breeding grounds. A pair of NORTHERN HARRIERS can be seen most evenings hunting over the bushes, a SHARP-SHINNED HAWK was seen on the 20th and a MERLIN was seen on the 25th, otherwise few birds of prey are around. The wet and windy weather on the 23rd saw a good movement of BONAPARTE’S GULLS with over 13,300 being counted, many more were probably missed as quite a few went behind the observatory, also observed with them were 59 LITTLE GULLS with the biggest group being 8. The best bird seen with them was a summer plumaged SABINE’S GULL among a group of about 50 BONAPARTE’S and was just metres from the shore. CASPIAN TERNS are becoming more regular and up to 3 a day are now being seen. A BELTED KINGFISHER is being seen almost every other day around the harbour. YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKERS have decreased with only 2-3 females being retrapped every so often. NORTHERN FLICKERS are still being seen along the road edges in good numbers. The only flycatcher apart from the resident EASTERN PHOEBES to be seen this week was a GREAT-CRESTED FLYCATCHER on the 26th. Our first PURPLE MARTINS of the year were seen on the 22nd with the other swallows gradually increasing in the area, the CLIFF SWALLOWS are back on the lighthouse and BARN SWALLOWS have been seen prospecting on the observatory building. BROWN CREEPER numbers are dropping and the HOUSE WRENS are singing energetically. GOLDEN-CROWNED Kinglets have almost finished moving but RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS are moving in good numbers with few females seen so far indicating that there are lots more to come yet. HERMIT THRUSHES are still trickling through and up to four BROWN THRASHERS are now singing. 2 BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS were seen on the 20th and up to 150 CEDAR WAXWINGS are still in the area. YELLOW RUMPED WARBLERS numbered 30 on the 20th and 40 on the 22nd, PINE WARBLERS have also been seen this week and the first Western PALM WARBLER of the spring was banded on the 25th. More species of warblers will probably move this weekend on the fine weather. The only FOX SPARROW this week was a single bird on the 20th. WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS are only being seen in low numbers (less than 10 a day) but should increase soon. Up to 25 DARK-EYED JUNCOS a day are being seen. At least 50 RUSTY BLACKBIRDS were seen on the 22nd, the first HOUSE FINCH of the spring was seen on the 20th and the first PINE SISKINS were noted on the 22nd. In other birding news around Prince Edward County, Kaiser Crossroad continues to host a good variety of waterfowl with at least a half dozen species of ducks present, including over 60 NORTHERN PINTAILS. Elsewhere around the Quinte area, there was a NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD on South Big Island Road, north of Demorestville on the 25th, and a NASHVILLE WARBLER singing at the Belleville Cemetery yesterday. Daily bird sightings can be seen on the Quinte Area Bird Report at www.naturestuff.net . News from the Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory can be seen on their website at www.peptbo.ca . Terry Sprague 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/
[Ontbirds] Quinte Area Bird Report for week of May 20-26, 2011
Report from the Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory for the week of May 20-26 courtesy of manager David Okines. The DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS offshore have now increased to at least 1000. Both GREEN HERON and BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON were observed on the 20th. The local CANADA GEESE have had a good season and at least 36 young can be found around the harbour. On the 22nd there were 634 BRANT that flew north, offshore the number of SURF SCOTERS to be seen off from Point Traverse has decreased and very few are now to be found there. WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS and LONG-TAILED DUCKS have also decreased to about 50 of each. A BLACK SCOTER was seen off Point Traverse on the 20th. An OSPREY was seen in the harbour area on the 20th, three BROAD-WINGED HAWKS were seen on the 22nd and another flew over on the 26th, an AMERICAN KESTREL was flying over on the 20th. A SOLITARY SANDPIPER was on the spit in the harbour on the 20th and the WILSON'S SNIPE is calling daily. Two ROCK PIGEONS flew over on census on the 25th and a WHIP-POOR-WILL was heard on the 20th. RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD numbers have picked up a bit and 6-7 are being seen daily. The RED-HEADED WOODPECKER was heard again on the 20th and 21st while the RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER continues to put in the occasional appearance. OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHERS were seen on the 20th and 22nd, flycatchers in general are starting to trickle through and the first YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHERS of the spring were seen on the 23rd. Twenty LEAST FLYCATCHERS were counted on the 22nd. Three EASTERN KINGBIRDS that were trapped in the same net on the 26th broke the record for the most banded in a spring. Vireos continue their good run and the 22nd had 15 BLUE-HEADED VIREOS, 45 PHILADELPHIA VIREOS and 120 RED-EYED VIREOS PRESENT in the woods. BLUE JAYS continue to pass through in small numbers and up to 150 a day are going over. RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES numbered 10 on the 20th and RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS have almost finished for the spring. Thrush numbers are slowly picking up with a few GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSHES being seen daily, the 22nd had 12 VEERY, 10 WOOD THRUSH and 30 SWAINSON'S THRUSHES being noted. Up to 45 GRAY CATBIRDS a day are being recorded and a NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD appeared on a post on the front lawn for a few minutes before heading off towards the harbour. CEDAR WAXWINGS are increasing and 45 to 90 a day are being recorded. Twenty-four species of warblers were recorded during the week. A GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLER was banded on the 20th and TENNESSEE WARBLERS numbered 20 on the 20th and 22nd. ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS were seen on the 20th and 23rd, NASHVILLE WARBLERS have now dropped to only a handful a day and NORTHERN PARULAS have probably finished for the spring. The 22nd was good day for warblers and the following high counts were noted, YELLOW WARBLER 80, CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER 70, MAGNOLIA WARBLER 160, BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER 70, BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER 25, BAY-BREASTED WARBLER 20, BLACKPOLL WARBLER 20 and AMERICAN REDSTART 30. Up to 8 CANADA WARBLERS have been seen in a day and WILSON'S WARBLERS are starting to increase as well. A CLAY-COLORED SPARROW was seen on the 22nd and LINCOLN'S SPARROWS numbered 35 on the 22nd. WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS have all but disappeared and only 1-2 WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS are left. ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAKS have dropped to only 1-2 a day, but INDIGO BUNTINGS are still being seen and 10 were present on the 22nd. There appears to be a pair of ORCHARD ORIOLES hanging about and an adult male that was originally banded last year was retrapped on the 26th. Bird of the week was a WORM-EATING WARBLER seen well by Terry Sprague's birding group at the west end of Point Traverse woods on the 22nd. Elsewhere in the Quinte area, a BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON was observed in a wet area along Taylor Kidd Blvd., between Coronation Blvd and Odessa Road at Amherstview on the 25th. Closer to home, the Kaiser Crossroad flooded cornfields are indeed living up to their name. Today, 30 DUNLINS, 5 LEAST SANDPIPERS and 10 SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPERS (one wearing a band and a faded yellow/dingy white leg flag) were seen. An AMERICAN BITTERN and a GREATER YELLOWLEGS were heard calling there today. Among the birds seen on Main Duck Island (19 km off Prince Edward Point) yesterday were AMERICAN BITTERN, AMERICAN WOODCOCK, 6 species of warblers, GREAT CRESTED FLYCATCHER, BROWN THRASHER and numerous FIELD SPARROWS, and some of the largest, longest, fattest and blackest NORTHERN WATER SNAKES I have seen in my life! About 8 km out in the lake, a determined RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD was seen heading toward Prince Edward Point! 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 P
[Ontbirds] Quinte Area Bird Report for week of Apr. 15-21
Report from the Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory for the week of April 15-21, courtesy of manager David Okines. COMMON LOONS are going over in small numbers and single GREAT BLUE HERONS were seen on the 20th and 21st. A flock of 7 MUTE SWANS on the 19th is the largest group ever seen here. A female WOOD DUCK was a nice find in a net on the 21st, meanwhile off shore, up to a 1000 WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS and 1500 LONG-TAILED DUCKS are being seen. BUFFLEHEADS numbered 105 on the 21st. A SHARP-SHINNED HAWK was banded on the 21st and a RED-SHOULDERED HAWK circled the point on the 17th. CASPIAN TERNS are more obvious now and up to 2 can be seen daily. BELTED KINGFISHERS can often be seen flying over the area and a RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER was seen on the 17th. With the cold and rainy weather, the bushes have been fairly quiet lately. One or 2 YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKERS can usually be found and up to 25 NORTHERN FLICKERS can be seen feeding on the grass around the Observatory. COMMON RAVENS were seen on the 18th and 19th. Hirundines are slowly coming back and up to 10 TREE SWALLOWS can be seen, as can up to 6 CLIFF SWALLOWS and 3 BARN SWALLOWS. BROWN CREEPER numbers have dropped but should pick up again if and when the weather gets better. GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS peaked at just 20 on the 15th and 5 RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS on the 21st was the peak count this week for that species. A pair of EASTERN BLUEBIRDS spent a short time checking out the boxes on the 17th but soon left the area. Up to 4 HERMIT THRUSHES have been seen and BROWN THRASHERS were seen twice this week. YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS have been very scarce so far and the second bird of the spring appeared in a net on the 21st. No other warblers have been seen yet. AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS can still be heard singing in the woods but will probably move on north soon. CHIPPING SPARROWS are slowly increasing and 8 were seen on the 17th. Up to 15 FOX SPARROWS have been seen and WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS are now being seen in small numbers daily. DARK-EYED JUNCOS numbered 100 on the 17th, with lots of banded birds hanging around; fortunately, they all moved off on the 20th/21st, but there should still be more to come. Ten RUSTY BLACKBIRDS were seen on the 19th as was the first EASTERN MEADOWLARK of the spring. Two PINE SISKINS were at the feeders on the 18th. Finally the HARLEQUIN DUCKS were seen again on the 18th when 6 were present, the flock comprised 2 adult males, 2 adult females and a young male and a young female. Elsewhere in the Quinte area, the Kaiser Crossroad flooded cornfields are still producing upwards of nine species of waterfowl per day, due to the heavy rains. NORTHERN PINTAILS have all but departed, but up to a dozen NORTHERN SHOVELERS, 4 REDHEADS and over 30 RING-NECKED DUCKS are among those that can still be found. From 100-300 BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS are still present in Prince Edward County, mainly in the Bloomfield and Wellington areas. An AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN was seen in the Milhaven Creek/Bay of Quinte area on April 20th, but has not been reported since. A pair of PILEATED WOODPECKERS are nesting in a utility pole along McIntyre Road north of Bath, and in Wellington a BROWN CREEPER has been coming to a niger seed feeder. On a bit sadder note, an OSPREY along South Big Island Road near Demorestville was electrocuted when it landed atop a hydro pole, and dangled ignominiously by one foot for two days, the other foot still clutching a partially eaten brown bullhead, until high winds allowed the dead bird to fall to the ground. For more more sightings, be sure to check out the Quinte Area Bird Report on the Main Birding page, updated daily 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/
[Ontbirds] Quinte Area Bird Report for week of April 01-07
With this e-mail, we welcome back David Okines and his weekly report from the Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory. The Observatory opens for the spring season on Sunday, April 10th. One or two COMMON LOONS a day are being seen and DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS are starting to return with up to 20 a day being seen on the shoal. A few TURKEY VULTURES are being seen daily and CANADA GEESE are moving - most days have up to 250 going over, but on the 2nd, just over 11,000 went north east, mixed in with the flocks were one SNOW GOOSE and one CACKLING GOOSE, a few scattered ducks were also mixed in with them. Offshore, up to 1500 WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS and 1000 LONG-TAILED DUCKS can be seen. A NORTHERN GOSHAWK was seen on the 2nd, as was an AMERICAN KESTREL. The first KILLDEER was seen on the 7th and WILSON'S SNIPE and AMERICAN WOODCOCKS are calling daily. The first CASPIAN TERNS (2) were seen today (7th). A RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER was seen today and PILEATED WOODPECKERS have been seen twice this week. An EASTERN PHOEBE was seen sitting on the lighthouse this evening. A TREE SWALLOW was seen just up the road on the 3rd. It's been very quiet in the bushes so far and the first BROWN CREEPER was seen on the 7th, and there have been no sightings of kinglets yet! Up to 50 AMERICAN ROBINS are present and a single CEDAR WAXWING was found on the 5th. The first CHIPPING SPARROW was seen on the front lawn on the 6th and a few AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS are still present. SONG SPARROWS are slowly increasing and will no doubt soon be breeding. RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS (150) and 400 COMMON GRACKLES flew over on the 2nd. Two PURPLE FINCHES graced the feeders on the 7th and two COMMON REDPOLLS were seen on the 5th with a single PINE SISKIN on the 3rd. A rarity at the point, a HOUSE SPARROW, was banded on the 3rd. Although it has been quiet, there are still good birds to be found like the pair of HARLEQUIN DUCKS found just offshore at 6 pm on the 7th. Elsewhere in Prince Edward County, TREE SWALLOWS have returned in small numbers, and a scattering of PURPLE MARTINS has also been seen. A YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER was seen near Picton yesterday. The big news was the sighting of two well described GLOSSY IBISES in flight on April 1st near Picton, but which were not seen again, and the 600-800 SNOW GEESE March 12-22 at the famous Kaiser Crossroad flooded cornfields. Waterfowl numbers at the fields are good these days averaging a dozen species per day. For more more sightings, be sure to check out the Quinte Area Bird Report on the Main Birding page, updated daily 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 . NatureStuff - Tours & Things seminars, presentations, consulting interpretive hikes, bus tours kayaking & canoe tours www.naturestuff.net Terry Sprague 23 Sprague Road R.R. 1, Demorestville, ON K0K 1W0 613-476-5072 (home), 613-848-4549 (cell) ___ 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/
[Ontbirds] Quinte Area Bird Report update for October 21, 2010
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 ___ 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/
[Ontbirds] Quinte Area Bird Report update for October 14, 2010
Report from the Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory for the week of October 08 - 14 courtesy of manager David Okines. Eighty TURKEY VULTURES WERE seen on the 12th; otherwise fewer than 7 a day have been seen all week. MALLARDS increased to 20 on the 13th and a GREEN-WINGED TEAL was seen on the 9th. Offshore up to 1000 GREATER SCAUP have been seen as have up to 150 WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS. The 13th saw the first 8 LONG-TAILED DUCKS of the season go past and 15 RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS were also seen that day. Raptor numbers have dropped to almost none since the 9th. Two shorebirds were seen this week, a LESSER YELLOWLEGS flew over calling in the 11th and a SEMIPALMATED PLOVER was on the beach near the lighthouse on the 13th. A BARRED OWL was banded on the 9th and NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWLS had a big push all week, a total of 571 were banded with a peak of 155 on the 10th, including a few seen in the bushes. There were four days this week with over a hundred seen. A BELTED KINGFISHER was seen on the 12th and a RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER was seen on the 10th. It looks as though HAIRY WOODPECKERS have started to move with a peak of 4 seen on the 13th. Up to 6 EASTERN PHOEBES have been seen in a day. BLUE-HEADED VIREOS have dropped to 5-7 a day and RED-EYED VIREOS were last seen on the 9th. Small groups of BLUE JAYS continue to move with peak counts of 350 on the 8th and 250 on the 12th. What would fall be without a few BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEES around, and they have definitely been moving this week; over 230 have been banded and up to 350 a day have been seen going over. A late HOUSE WREN seen on the 9th is the only record for this October. GOLDEN and RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS continue to move with a peak count of 250 GOLDENS on the 10th and 55 RUBYS on the 9th. The first EASTERN BLUEBIRD of the fall flew over on the 8th and a late SWAINSON'S THRUSH was banded on the 10th. HERMIT THRUSHES have numbered 20 or fewer all week and a few days have had AMERICAN ROBINS starting to move, with 70 seen on the 8th and 75 counted on the 13th. An AMERICAN PIPIT was seen on the 8th. Only five species of warblers were seen this week, NASHVILLE, BLACK-THROATED BLUE, YELLOW-RUMPED, western PALM and a single PINE WARBLER on the 10th. YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS peaked at 50 on the 10th, all the other species had a maximum of 2 seen in a day. Four CHIPPING SPARROWS were seen on two dates, The only SWAMP SPARROW for this October was banded on the 11th, WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS numbered 50 on the 8th but have decreased since. Fifty WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS were seen on the 11th but other than that fewer than 25 a day are being seen. DARK-EYED JUNCOS peaked at 40 on the 8th and 9th. An EASTERN MEADOWLARK flew over on the 9th while 65 RUSTY BLACKBIRDS were counted on the 9th as well. The first BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD in over a month was seen on the 13th. Finally, another HOUSE SPARROW was seen on the 11th, rare at the Point. 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 ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS@hwcn.org For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
[Ontbirds] Quinte Area Bird Report update
Report from the Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory for the week of October 01 - 07, courtesy of manager David Okines. The DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS offshore have now dropped down to a hundred or so a day. TURKEY VULTURES numbered 350 on the 6th and 700 the following day, a day when a good movement of raptors was had. AN AMERICAN BLACK DUCK was seen in the harbour on the 6th along with the MALLARD. Thirteen NORTHERN PINTAIL flew over on the 5th and GREATER SCAUP numbered at least a 1000 on the 6th. WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS are also increasing and 65 were seen offshore on the 6th, a single was seen on the 2nd and two were present on the 7th. A late OSPREY was seen on the 4th and BALD EAGLES have been seen on and off all week. A female PEREGRINE flew over on the 5th and on the 7th there were 280 SHARP-SHINNED HAWKS, 6 NORTHERN HARRIERS, 3 NORTHERN GOSHAWKS, the first RED-SHOULDERED HAWK of the fall and at least 25 RED-TAILED HAWKS. NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWLS have been slow this week and only 15 were banded. A BELTED KINGFISHER continues to haunt the harbour and 10 YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKERS were noted on the 2nd. A late YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHER was banded on the 2nd, Three to five EASTERN PHOEBES have been present all week, up to 45 BLUE-HEADED VIREOS could be found in the bushes and 1-5 RED-EYED VIREOS have also been around. On the 1st there were two PHILADELPHIA VIREOS banded. BLUE JAY migration has slowed down and peaked at 550 on the 1st, most other days have had 100 or so being seen going over. BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEES have started to increase and up to 15 were noted in the bushes. RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES continue in their good fall numbers with up to 15 in a day being recorded. BROWN CREEPERS have remained steady with up to 40 a day being seen. GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS have increased and peaked at 500 on the 6th, RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS are also moving but in fewer numbers and 200 on the 6th was the most in a day. A late BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER was photographed on the 2nd. GRAY-CHEEKED and SWAINSON'S THRUSHES have decreased but HERMIT THRUSHES continue to move with the peak of 65 being seen on the 2nd. As fall progresses, we start to see a return of some of the breeding species. Migrant AMERICAN ROBINS are starting to be seen in the early morning and up to 55 a day are being recorded. AMERICAN PIPITS (36) on the 5th was noteworthy. Just to show that all is not over, 16 species of warblers were seen during the week. Highlights of the week were an ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER and a TENNESSEE WARBLER on the 2nd, a PINE and a yellow PALM WARBLER on the 1st, up to 200 YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS on the 1st and 2nd, an AMERICAN REDSTART on the 1st and 2 WILSON'S WARBLERS on the 3rd. A SCARLET TANAGER with a band on it was retrapped on the 6th. Among the sparrows was an early FOX SPARROW on the 4th, WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS numbered 100 on the 2nd and 7th. WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS have remained constant at around 35 a day. DARK-EYED JUNCOS arrived in force on the 3rd and 100-130 have been seen daily since then. October is the time when the blackbirds return and RUSTY BLACKBIRDS numbered and impressive 180 and 175 on the 1st and 2nd, 300 RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS flew over on the 7th as did 75 COMMON GRACKLES. A rarity at the Point, a HOUSE SPARROW, was trapped on the 7th, only the third time one has ever been banded in the fall with the last one being done in 2003. 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 . NatureStuff - Tours & Things seminars, presentations, consulting interpretive hikes, bus tours kayaking & canoe tours www.naturestuff.net Terry Sprague 23 Sprague Road R.R. 1, Demorestville, ON K0K 1W0 613-476-5072 (home), 613-848-4549 (cell) ___ 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/
[Ontbirds] Quinte Area Bird Report for week of September 30, 2010
Report from the Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory for the week of September 24-30, courtesy of manager David Okines. DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS are decreasing and a generally number 2-3000 now. A few flocks of CANADA GEESE can be seen flying over with a peak count of 106 on the 26th. The 3 MUTE SWANS that had been regular offshore haven't been seen since the 24th. GREATER SCAUP numbered 33 on the 25th and WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS peaked at 70 on the 27th and 2 BLACK SCOTERS in with the WHITE-WINGS on the 29th was an early record. SHARP-SHINNED HAWKS numbered 30 on the 25th and 15 on the 29th and single COOPER'S HAWKS were seen on the 25th and 29th. Other species of raptors seen included a BROAD-WINGED HAWK on the 25th and 1-2 MERLINS daily. A SOLITARY SANDPIPER seen in the harbour on the 24th was the only shorebird of the week. CASPIAN TERNS were seen on the 24th and 25th. An EASTERN SCREECH OWL was banded on the 27th and 24 NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWLS have been trapped during the week including one that was originally banded at Whitefish Point in Michigan in 2009. Occasional RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRDS are still being seen with the latest one being on the 29th. A RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER was seen on the 24th and 25th, up to 7 YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKERS have been seen in a day as has up to 10 NORTHERN FLICKERS. A PILEATED WOODPECKER put in an appearance on the 27th. A few flycatchers are still hanging in with singles of EASTERN WOOD-PEWEE on the 29th and YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHER on the 27th. EASTERN PHOEBES can be seen daily around the Observatory. The 26th and 29th had lots of birds moving and each day resulted in banding totals exceeding 200. BLUE-HEADED VIREOS numbered 35 on the 26th and 30 on the 29th and RED-EYED VIREOS numbered 25 on the 26th, PHILADELPHIA VIREOS were seen on the 27th and 29th. BLUE JAYS are moving in good numbers now with up to 5000 a day going over, and the COMMON RAVENS are still putting in an appearance daily. RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES numbered 12 on the 29th and up to 25 BROWN CREEPERS a day are being seen. At least 35 WINTER WRENS were present on the 26th as were 600 GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS and 100 RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS. Thrush numbers are slow but steady with up to 20 GRAY-CHEEKS and SWAINSON'S being seen. Single WOOD THRUSHES appeared on the 24th and 29th. BROWN THRASHERS increased to 4 by the 27th. Seventeen species of warblers were seen during the week. Five TENNESSEE WARBLERS were trapped on the 29th and 12 and 15 Nashville Warblers were seen on the 26th and 29th. MAGNOLIA WARBLER numbers have decreased and a CAPE MAY WARBLER was banded on the 24th. BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLERS numbered 20 on two dates and YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS are becoming more noticeable with a peak of 50 being seen on the 29th. Three BAY-BREASTED WARBLERS were banded on the 29th with 10 BLACKPOLLS being seen that day as well. A female BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER on the 29th was the first of that species for 10 days. AMERICAN REDSTARTS are also decreasing with singles being seen every other day. A WILSON'S WARBLER on the 29th was late. SCARLET TANAGERS continue in their small movement with a peak of 6 on the 29th. Three SWAMP SPARROWS were seen on the 26th. WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS are becoming more common with up to 55 a day being seen, WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS numbered 15 on the 29th and occasional adults are being seen as well. DARK-EYED JUNCOS have dropped off a bit but should build up soon. This fall is looking good for RUSTY BLACKBIRDS with small flocks going over regularly, 18 were seen on the 24th and 40 were seen on the 29th. A single PURPLE FINCH was seen on the 24th and 8 HOUSE FINCHES were noted going over in a small flock on the 29th. 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 ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS@hwcn.org For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
[Ontbirds] Quinte Area Bird Report for week of September 23, 2010
the 20th. PURPLE FINCHES still number 1-4 in a day and AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES are moving on some days with a peak of 120 on the 18th. 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 ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS@hwcn.org For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
[Ontbirds] Quinte Area Bird Report for week ending September 16, 2010
Report from the Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory for the week of September 10-16, courtesy of manager David Okines. The three MUTE SWANS that were seen offshore on the 10th are rare at the Point and one off only a small handful of records for this species. The weed has returned to the entrance of the harbour and with it 90+ MALLARDS and up to 80 CANADA GEESE, mixed in with those MALLARDS have been up to 10 AMERICAN BLACK DUCKS. A merganser species was seen briefly on the 16th but no other duck species were seen this week. The winds on the 13th/14th and 15th caused a few raptors to move with up to 180 SHARP-SHINNED HAWKS a day going over, 13 BALD EAGLES of mixed ages went out over the lake on the 13th, and BROAD-WINGED HAWKS peaked at just 12 on the 13th. Ten or fewer AMERICAN KESTRELS, COOPER'S HAWKS and NORTHERN HARRIERS were also seen; the 15th saw 10 MERLINS including one that flew into a net. The only shorebird this week was a single SEMIPALMATED PLOVER on the beach on the 13th. BONAPARTE'S GULLS have increased a bit with up to 25 a day seen fishing offshore. Occasional RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRDS are still seen coming to the feeders. NORTHERN FLICKERS are starting to move and peaked at 12 on the 15th. Flycatchers rarely numbered more than one each of the regular species in a day this week. BLUE-HEADED VIREOS are starting to trickle through and 8 were noted on the 15th, a late WARBLING VIREO was trapped on the 15th and 5 PHILADELPHIA VIREOS were seen on the 11th, RED-EYED VIREOS continue to be seen in reasonable numbers with up to 18 a day being counted. BLUE JAYS have started their fall migration and on the 13th 250 were seen flying over in groups of 35 or fewer. COMMON RAVENS are still being seen early on most mornings and are usually heard before being seen. A TREE SWALLOW on the 10th and BARN SWALLOWS to the 12th are the only members of that family this week. This year is looking good for a RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH movement with a peak of 20 seen on the 15th. BROWN CREEPERS are becoming more regular but still in only small numbers. Fall is officially here; the first RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET arrived on the 10th with GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS trailing them by only one day, GOLDEN-CROWNEDS peaked this week at 20 on the 15th. SWAINSON'S THRUSHES numbered 30 on the 111th with most other days this week having 10 - 15 seen, GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSHES have also started moving but only 1-4 a day are being seen so far. A spotty juvenile HERMIT THRUSH was banded on the 15th. On the beach on the 15th there was the first AMERICAN PIPIT of the fall. Eighteen species of warblers were seen this week. An ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER on the 16th was new for the fall, 5 NORTHERN PARULAS were seen on the 11th and 15th and MAGNOLIA WARBLERS numbered 35 on those days as well. Two CAPE MAYS put in an appearance in the nets on the 11th. BLACK-THROATED BLUES numbered 18 on the 15th. YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS have been seen in ones and twos all week while BLACKPOLLS numbered 50 on the 11th and up to 25 on most other days. AMERICAN REDSTARTS numbered 20 on the 13th and 1-3 OVENBIRDS are being seen most days. A SCARLET TANAGER flew over on the 15th. Other notable birds of the fall included 1-3 WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS that are being seen daily and up to 4 DARK-EYED JUNCOS. Six ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAKS were noted on the 15th. A small handful of PURPLE FINCHES have been visiting the feeders. Lastly, a WHITE-WINGED DOVE was seen and photographed just up the road from the Observatory on the 13th but unfortunately it was not re-found. This is the second Observatory record. Elsewhere in Prince Edward County, the two SANDHILL CRANES continue to forage in a large field along County Road 15, just north of Demorestville. For more sightings, be sure to check out the Quinte Area Bird Report on the Main Birding page at www.naturestuff.net. Terry Sprague Prince Edward County tspra...@kos.net . NatureStuff - Tours & Things seminars, presentations, consulting interpretive hikes, bus tours kayaking & canoe tours www.naturestuff.net Terry Sprague 23 Sprague Road R.R. 1, Demorestville, ON K0K 1W0 613-476-5072 (home), 613-848-4549 (cell) ___ 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/
[Ontbirds] Quinte Area Bird Report for week ending Sept. 09, 2010
Report from the Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory for the week of September 03-09, courtesy of manager David Okines. The number of MALLARDS and CANADA GEESE in the harbour continue to fluctuate, the only other ducks seen this week were an AMERICAN BLACK DUCK and a BLUE-WINGED TEAL, both were seen on the 3rd. BALD EAGLES are still being seen and SHARP-SHINNED HAWKS are increasing as they start to migrate. COOPER'S HAWKS were seen on the 3rd and 8th and a few BROAD-WINGED HAWKS can be seen occasionally. An AMERICAN WOODCOCK was flushed on the 5th. BONAPARTE'S GULLS have been seen almost daily and peaked at 18 on the 5th. A local young BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO frequents the nets almost daily. Two COMMON NIGHTHAWKS were seen on the 5th and another was flying around at dawn on the 9th. Single CHIMNEY SWIFTS were noted on the 3rd and 5th and RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRDS have dropped to one or two a day now. Six species of flycatchers have been found during the week including a late EASTERN KINGBIRD on the 5th. The first BLUE-HEADED VIREO was banded on the 7th and RED-EYED VIREOS numbered 20 on the 6th and 8th. Occasional TREE and CLIFF SWALLOWS have been seen and a few BARN SWALLOWS are still going over. The first BROWN CREEPERS of the fall arrived on the 5th. Thrushes continue to trickle through with GRAY-CHEEKED, VEERY and SWAINSON'S being banded. Nineteen species of warblers have been found during the week. Firsts for the fall were a NORTHERN PARULA on the 6th, WESTERN PALM WARBLER on the 9th and a CONNECTICUT that was banded on the 3rd, a late YELLOW WARBLER was seen on the 7th, CAPE MAYS were seen on the 5th and 6th. All other species were seen in the usual low numbers for this time of the fall. A SCARLET TANAGER was seen on the 4th and four young males were trapped in the same net on the 9th. The last BOBOLINK was trapped on the 3rd. AMERICAN GOLDFINCH numbers are increasing with up to 45 in a day visiting the feeders. Lastly, fall is officially here with the arrival of the first DARK-EYED JUNCO of the fall appearing in a net on the 9th. Elsewhere in Prince Edward County, a WHITE PELICAN turned up in the Bay of Quinte at the Norris Whitney Bridge (Belleville) on September 5th, and two SANDHILL CRANES continue to forage in a large field along County Road 15, just north of Demorestville. For more sightings, be sure to check out the Quinte Area Bird Report on the Main Birding page at www.naturestuff.net. Terry Sprague Prince Edward County tspra...@kos.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/
[Ontbirds] Quinte Area Bird Report
This is the August 26th report from the Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory, submitted by Station Manager David Okines. Things have really picked up at the Observatory since last week. COMMON LOONS were seen moving on the 23rd and 25th, 4 GREAT BLUE HERONS were seen in the harbour on the 25th. 4 BLACK-CROWNED HERONS that flew into the harbour at dusk on the 25th were only the 4th fall record. CANADA GEESE have been increasing and numbered 177 in the harbour on the 25th. Up to 220 MALLARDS are being seen daily and 2-4 BLUE-WINGED TEALS can usually be seen amongst them. An OSPREY went over on the 25th and BALD EAGLES are being seen regularly, 11 BROAD-WINGED HAWKS flew over on the 26th and a female MERLIN is being seen daily. 6 LESSER YELLOWLEGS flew down the harbour on the 23rd, SPOTTED SANDPIPERS are being seen daily and 3 LEAST SANDPIPERS were found on the 26th. 8 BONAPARTE'S GULLS were seen offshore on the 24th and a COMMON TERN flew over on the 21st calling noisily. BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO'S are still present and a recently fledged young bird was trapped on the 24th along with its mum. Late August is also the time for COMMON NIGHTHAWKS to move and 11 were seen on the 24th and 63 passed over in three flocks on the 25th. 2 OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHERS were seen on the 24th and the first EASTERN WOOD PEWEE was noted on the 21st. A small influx of flycatchers on the 26th included 15 YELLOW-BELLIED and 6 LEAST. The first PHILADELPHIA VIREO of the fall was trapped on the 24th and at least 20 RED-EYED VIREOS were seen on the 26th. A few BLUE JAYS, numbering at least 25 were seen on the 25th and start the fall migration of that species. On the 24th a movement of swallows included 100 TREE SWALLOWS, 25 PURPLE MARTINS, 40 NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOWS, 80 BANKS SWALLOWS, 40 CLIFF SWALLOWS and at least 300 BARN SWALLOWS, a CHIMNEY SWIFT that blundered into a net was banded and is new to the all time fall banding list. CEDAR WAXWING numbers are increasing and 120 were seen on the 25th. Firsts for the fall were BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLERS, BLACKPOLL WARBLERS and OVENBIRDS on the 24th. BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLERS first started really moving on the 24th when 15 were noted with at least 10 seen the following day. An arrival on the 26th saw the first thrushes of the fall with 5 VEERY and 4 SWAINSON'S being trapped. Also seen were 18 species of warbler, including 7 TENNESSEE, 11 NASHVILLE, 15 CHESTNUT-SIDED, 60 MAGNOLIAS, 15 BLACK-THROATED BLUES, 20 BLACKPOLLS, 15 BLACK-AND-WHITES, 40 AMERICAN REDSTARTS, 12 WILSON'S and 7 CANADA'S. After a quiet, wet and windy start to the week BOBOLINKS moved in earnest on the 24th and 25th when 96 and 131 were trapped, estimates for those two days were 200 and 250 seen. 10 BALTIMORE ORIOLES were seen on the 21st and PURPLE FINCHES have been seen twice this week. Bird of the week was a GLOSSY IBIS that was seen on the 23rd for about 5 minutes among the loafing MALLARDS on a shingle spit at the entrance to the harbour, it was preening itself and it did not stay long, disappearing when the MALLARDS were flushed by something. For a summary of birds seen elsewhere in the Quinte area, look under BIRDING from the Main Menu of the NatureStuff website at www.naturestuff.net . Updates made daily. Terry Sprague Prince Edward County tspra...@kos.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/
[Ontbirds] Quinte Area Bird Report for the week ending September 03, 2009
WEEKLY BIRD REPORT FROM PRINCE EDWARD COUNTY AND THE QUINTE AREA FOR THE WEEK ENDING Thursday, September 03, 2009 The "pink" sounds of BOBOLINKS, choruses of crickets and grasshoppers in roadside ditches, and crisp morning temperatures are a reminder that summer is on the wane and autumn is in the offing. BALTIMORE ORIOLES have departed from the majority of bird feeders across the region, although RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRDS are still holding their own, with as many as four visiting a nectar feeder along Bradley Crossroad at Lake on the Mountain. Juvenile RED-BELLIED WOODPECKERS have been seen at a peanut feeder in Bloomfield, and NORTHERN FLICKERS have even been noted at many feeding stations this past week, along with a few ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAKS yet. All over though birds are flocking and up to 1500 EUROPEAN STARLINGS have been blanketing a lawn along South Big Island Road just west of Caughey Road. Six COMMON LOONS were on Lake on the Mountain this week, and 20 TURKEY VULTURES were noted drifting south near Consecon on Tuesday. Six GREEN HERONS which probably constitutes a flock, were seen at the Brighton Constructed Wetlands August 30th, and other birds showing up at this popular location that day were 2 RED-NECKED PHALAROPES, LEAST SANDPIPER, OSPREY, MARSH WREN, COMMON MOORHEN and GREEN-WINGED TEAL, among the 16 species of birds recorded by one Napanee birder. An AMERICAN BITTERN was present along the Moira River south of the CN tracks in Belleville on the 2nd. During a 18-km canoe paddle on the Napanee River from Napanee to Strathcona on Sunday, and back again, a plethora of some 30 species got tallied during the four-hour paddle including numerous EASTERN WOOD-PEWEES, EASTERN PHOEBES, CEDAR WAXWINGS, OSPREY, GREEN HERON, GREAT BLUE HERON, PILEATED WOODPECKER, MALLARDS, SPOTTED SANDPIPERS, HOUSE WRENS, and both WARBLING and RED-EYED VIREOS, just to name a few that kept turning up during the paddle. Suddenly it was spring once again. At Prince Edward Point, an observer there on the 31st checked off CAPE MAY, TENNESSEE, BAY-BREASTED, and BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLERS, and AMERICAN REDSTARTS. It was my hope I could delay making this announcement until the end of this year, but circumstances have made it necessary to permanently retire the Quinte Area Bird Report, a service that has been provided to readers in some form or other since 1995. Increasing commitments with my business involving speaking engagements, interpretive hikes and canoe/kayak tours and bus tours are making it increasingly difficult to commit to this weekly task every Thursday. Thank you to everyone for some 14 years of providing this service to readers. The Quinte Area Bird Report will remain in some kind of format on my website at www.nturestuff.net , likely incorporating a few of the more interesting sightings as they come to my attention. Readers are encouraged to continue reporting any significant sightings to me in an effort to keep the Prince Edward County database up to date. Those who follow the the contributions from the Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory can follow those reports at the Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory website at www.peptbo.ca/ Thank you again for all your past support. And that's it for this week from Prince Edward County and the Quinte area. Our thanks to Bruce Ripley, Donald McClure, Henri Garand, Garry Kirsch, Myrna Wood, Owen Weir, Pamela Stagg and Margaret Kirk for their contributions to this week's report. Good birding! 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 ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS@hwcn.org For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
[Ontbirds] Quinte Area Bird Report for week ending August 27, 2009
kbirds have been congregating, preparatory to their fall migration, and not to be outdone have been large numbers of DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS at Muscote Bay. HOUSE WRENS were seen feeding young at 23 Sprague Road and at 2800 County Road 1, and a family of RED-BELLIED WOODPECKERS showed up at a feeder at the latter location as well this week. Lots of PILEATED WOODPECKER reports and still numerous feeders being frequented by RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRDS. And that's it for this week from Prince Edward County and the Quinte area. Our thanks to David Okines, Brock Burr, Mike Carmody, Bruce Ripley, Ron Weir, Nancy Fox, Joanne Dewey, Fiona King, Janet Foster, Chesia Livingston, Henri Garand, Janet Mooney, Donald McClure and Ted Cullin for their contributions to this week's report. This report will be updated on Thursday, September 3rd, but sightings can be e-mailed any time before the Wednesday night deadline. Featured photo on the Main Birding Page of the NatureStuff website this week is a double photo of a YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER catching and then consuming a flying insect by Adam Penson of Toronto. Photos in the online edition of the Quinte Area Bird Report are also by Adam Penson and include a fall plumaged CANADA WARBLER and an AMERICAN REDSTART. 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 ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS@hwcn.org For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
[Ontbirds] Quinte Area Bird Report for week ending August 20, 2009
And that's it for this week from Prince Edward County and the Quinte area. Our thanks to David Okines of the Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory, Lyle Anderson, Brock Burr, Chip Weseloh, Mike Burge & Kathy Felkar, David Bree, Nancy Fox, Cathie Stewart, Ove Ojaste & Mary-Ann Caswell, and Heather Heron for their contributions to this week's report. This report will be updated on Thursday, August 27th, but sightings can be e-mailed any time before the Wednesday night deadline. Featured photo this week on the Main Birding Page of the NatureStuff website is of an INDIGO BUNTING at a water garden along Fry Road. Photos in the online edition of the Quinte Area Bird Report of a RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD at a feeder and a KILLDEER at a mudflat are by Borys Holowacz and Adam Penson respectively. 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 ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS@hwcn.org For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
[Ontbirds] Quinte Area Bird Report for August 13, 2009
WEEKLY BIRD REPORT FROM PRINCE EDWARD COUNTY AND THE QUINTE AREA FOR THE WEEK ENDING Thursday, August 13, 2009 It is a month of nesting and a month of migration. While many species of shorebirds have been arriving at prime shorebird viewing locations such as Presqu'ile since July, and signs of migration among other species are evident, for others it's business as usual as AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES nest in earnest, now that thistle down and seed is available to them. At the same time, MOURNING DOVES continue to nest, along with SONG SPARROWS and BARN SWALLOWS, in apparent oblivion as TREE SWALLOWS line up on utility wires across the region preparatory for the journey south. Other species are collecting in little family groups and some like PURPLE MARTINS may be present at nesting boxes in large, musical groups, and other days absent from the scene. A siege of 7 GREEN HERONS has been present this week in a small cattail marsh along George's Road and a LEAST BITTERN was spotted flying into some cattails at South Bay. The flooded pasture field along County Road 14 between Demorestville and Highway 62, yields surprises almost daily. This week there were up to 5 GREAT EGRETS present along with 2 SANDHILL CRANES. SANDHILL CRANES have also been spotted near Big Island, 2 were seen at South Bay, and another was heard calling in flight over Old Milford Road during the week. A single BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER flew over South Bay on the 7th and an EASTERN SCREECH-OWL was heard calling at McMahon Bluff, at Black River. An immature BALD EAGLE was seen over Smith's Bay on the 11th, and a GREAT HORNED OWL inexplicably turned up on a hydro pole in a backyard east of Northport. . While backyard bird feeders aren't aflutter just yet with redpolls, siskins and crossbills, those who maintain their feeders during the summer months have been enjoying their share of interesting observations. At Bloomfield, an operator there watched as a young MOURNING DOVE perfected its technique at landing on and eating from a black oil sunflower seed dispenser. Also, there, BALTIMORE ORIOLES have been lining up to the trough, and a family of ORCHARD ORIOLES has also been present. ORCHARD ORIOLES have also been present in backyards at other locations in the County too. A ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK is visiting a feeder in Belleville, and a RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH at Harmony Road, just north of the city, where juvenile DOWNY WOODPECKERS, BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEES, NORTHERN CARDINALS, YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKERS and NORTHERN FLICKERS have all been see feeding young. A quick shower on the go was all a young RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD took time to enjoy in a Bloomfield backyard, which took a passing shower and a quick drink of water from the spray of a garden hose while the owner was watering her garden. PILEATED WOODPECKERS turned up in backyards at Fish Lake (5) and 2 in the Smith's Bay area. AMERICAN BITTERNS this week were seen along Georges Road and at South Bay. RED-EYED VIREOS, expectedly, were still in fine fettle with their ongoing interrogations at the Deroche Lake property east of Thomasburg yesterday during an 8 km hike there, as were WOOD PEWEES. Also heard and seen on the property were SWAMP SPARROWS, COMMON LOON, COMMON YELLOWTHROAT, BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER and EASTERN KINGBIRD. To reach Deroche Lake, take Vanderwater Road east from Highway 37 at Thomasburg and follow until the road ends. Leave your car at the roadside and follow the ATV trail in. Upon reaching the first junction, take the trail to the left to begin the 8 km loop and keep turning right at each junction until you return to the end of the loop. The lake itself is a good spot to have lunch. Bears are present here, and as we found out yesterday, no dearth of mosquitoes or deer flies. And that's it for this week from Prince Edward County and the Quinte area. Our thanks to Peter Hogenbirk, Donald McClure, Judy Kent, Ken Campbell, Mia Lane, Fiona King, Dave Shannon and Garry Kirsch for their contributions to this week's report. This report will be updated on Thursday, August 20th, but sightings can be e-mailed anytime before the Wednesday night deadline. Featured photo on the Main Birding Page of the NatureStuff website of TREE SWALLOWS gathering is by Adam Penson of Toronto. Photo of a GREEN HERON at Beaver Meadow is by Peter Sporring of Belleville, and GREAT EGRET at Cressy is by Paul Wallace, and both complement the online edition this week of the Quinte Area Bird Report. 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 ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS@hwcn.org For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
[Ontbirds] Quinte Area Bird Report for week ending Aug 06, 2009
WEEKLY BIRD REPORT FROM PRINCE EDWARD COUNTY AND THE QUINTE AREA FOR THE WEEK ENDING Thursday, August 06, 2009 After a month's hiatus, the Quinte Area Bird Report is back in business in recognition of the start of the autumn migration of birds in the Quinte area. That is not to suggest that the last 30 days or so have been uneventful. Highlighting the list of birds seen was a WHITE PELICAN on July 24th that hung around for all of a day in Picton Bay, just off from Chimney Point. GREAT EGRETS, likely post breeding dispersal birds from the Presqu'ile colony, have been turning up everywhere and up to 4 have been present since July 13th in a flooded pasture field along County Road 14 near Demorestville. This mini "Kaiser Crossroad" wetland has also harboured GREAT BLUE HERON, MALLARDS, and BLACK TERNS over the course of the summer. A lone SANDHILL CRANE continues to call sporadically west of 23 Sprague Road, and more recently from a field along County Road 15. Two juvenile SANDHILL CRANES were feeding in a field on Monday along County Road 10 near the intersection with County Road 13. Numerous sightings of INDIGO BUNTINGS were made during July and two continue to sing most mornings along Sprague Road. A hatch year BALD EAGLE passed over the Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory on July 15th and what may have been the same individual was seen two days later on County Road 10. Reminders of the warbler migration about to begin in earnest was a BLACK-AND-WHITE- WARBLER at 2800 County Road 1, a CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER along Fry Road, and numerous YELLOW WARBLERS at Point Traverse on Sunday. Twenty-five of the latter were banded at the Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory on Monday and Tuesday, although banding doesn't officially get under way until August 15th, continuing until the end of October, culminating with the banding of NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWLS. One of the better birding areas in Prince Edward County, Beaver Meadow Wildlife Management Area, has been made even more appealing this summer, at least to shorebirds. This 220-acre wetland has undergone a "drawdown", resulting in some mighty appealing mudflats which can be accessed from the decks of two lookouts. The walk to each lookout is relatively short and can be reached by taking either of the two hiking trails from the parking lot. Both hiking trails were groomed yesterday, but please be advised that the left trail is somewhat muddy in spots. Nothing too spectacular yet, although there have been up to 50 KILLDEERS, and yesterday there were about a dozen SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPERS, at least 2 GREATER YELLOWLEGS, and a SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER appears occasionally. Beaver Meadow can be reached by turning at the traffic lights at the Picton LCBO and following Lake Street south for 5 km, then right on County Road 11 for one kilometre to the conservation area entrance. A hatch year BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO was at Prince Edward Point this past week, no doubt the result of a successful nesting there, and recently fledged RED-BELLIED WOODECKERS have been at 2800 County Road 1. At Waupoos Island, a COMMON MERGANSER leading a double-sized brood of 24 chicks was seen a couple weeks ago, 11 WOOD DUCKS are present in a cove at Peat's Point near Massassauga. A half dozen WOOD DUCKS swam nonchalantly under a perching GREAT EGRET Tuesday where Highway 62 crosses Consecon Creek a short distance south of Bengill Road (C.R. 4 junction). A SPOTTED SANDPIPER was at Meyer's Pier in Belleville on the 3rd. and an UPLAND SANDPIPER was seen along Babylon Road some weeks ago, along with another at Chuckery Hill Road. Park naturalists at Sandbanks Provincial Park had a nice treat in July as they watched a nestful of ORCHARD ORIOLES fledge. Everywhere it has been nesting EASTERN KINGBIRDS, HOUSE WRENS, and AMERICAN KESTRELS. Young BLUE JAYS once again made noisy appearances at our feeders and coupled with a nest box full of extremely vocal AMERICAN KESTRELS, our backyard was deafening at times. MOURNING DOVES, true to form, continue to "build" nests and will likely continue to do so well into September. A ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK is visiting a feeder on Barker Street in Picton. And that's it for this week from Prince Edward County and the Quinte area,. Our thanks to Mike Burge & Kathy Felkar, Pamela Stagg, Joanne Dewey, Charles Crowe, David Okines, Don Campbell, Helen Graham, Donna Fano, Frank Artes & Carolyn Barnes, Henry Pasila, Garry Kirsch, David Bree, Kathleen Rankine, Steve Bolton, , Janet Mooney, Nancy Fox and Wendy Sharpe for their contributions to this week's report. This report will be updated on Thursday, August 13th, but sightings can be e-mailed anytime before the Wednesday night deadline. Featured photo on the Main Birding Page of the NatureStuff website of a GREAT EGRET is by David Bree of Bloomfield. Photos of a SPOTTED SANDPIPER and a
[Ontbirds] Quinte Area Bird Report for week ending July 02, 2009
mal ducked into a culvert under a sidewalk, giving the customary whistled notes. Recently, the female appeared with four cubs who soon became quite tame, often approaching the cafeteria window and gazing inward, or making their way over to the shipping doors where staff there would offer them handouts. One even took it a step further, and actually entered the building were it was seen scurrying the length of the warehouse. However, it's a dog eat dog world out there, although in this case, a fox eat groundhog world. a RED FOX was observed shaking the life out of one of the groundhogs, followed by the eventual disappearance of the rest of the litter. Nature is not always pretty, but in the real world, we all feed on something else. And that's it for this week from Prince Edward County and the Quinte Area. Our thanks to Henry Pasila, John Charlton, Garry Kirsch, Pamela Stagg, Fiona King, Bill Hogg, Frank Artes & Carolyn Barnes, Jess Chambers, Donn Legate, Doris Lane, and Donna Fano for their contributions to this week's report. This report will be updated on Thursday July 9th, but sightings can be e-mailed any time before the Wednesday nigh deadline. Photo on the Main Birding Page of the NatureStuff website of a VIRGINIA RAIL at the H.R Frink Centre near Plainfield is by Garry Kirsch of Belleville. The online edition of the Quinte Area Bird Report features a photo of a SANDHILL CRANE by Susan Withers of Napanee, and a PIED-BILLED GREBE by Garry Kirsch of Belleville. 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 ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS@hwcn.org For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
[Ontbirds] Quinte Area Bird Report for week ending June 25, 2009
icton of an INDIGO BUNTING and a BALTIMORE ORIOLE together at the same feeder. Photos in the online edition of the Quinte Area Bird Report of a BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON and a WARBLING VIREO are by Adam Penson of Toronto. 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 ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS@hwcn.org For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
[Ontbirds] Quinte Area Bird Report for week ending June 18, 2009
WEEKLY BIRD REPORT FROM PRINCE EDWARD COUNTY AND THE QUINTE AREA FOR THE WEEK ENDING Thursday, June 18, 2009 It became evident with this week's e-mails how much pleasure is being missed by those who choose not to continue feeding birds through the summer months. A nectar feeder south of Picton along County Road 10 that has enjoyed up to 20 BALTIMORE ORIOLES this spring, has had a family of INDIGO BUNTINGS become guests this past week. A hummingbird feeder at 2800 County Road 1 has a HAIRY WOODPECKER as a regular, and a Prinyer's Cove resident was pleasantly surprised this week to see a RED-HEADED WOODPECKER at his oriole feeder, one of the featured photos in the online edition of this week's report. A Picton resident had two ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAKS at he feeder, and RED-BELLIED WOODPECKERS are regulars at a feeder on County Road 1 where a juvenile was being fed by the adult birds. With its eye on the feeders at a sundeck in the Madoc area, but veering away inexplicably to a nearby apple tree was a male SCARLET TANAGER. Based on these experiences, and those of this writer, just about anything is possible when feeding is continued through the spring and summer months, with a little attention, of course, to the selection of foods offered to dissuade grackles and starlings. A pair of COMMON MERGANSERS continue to hang out in the harbour most mornings at Baycrest Marina along North Big Island Road. A HOODED MERGANSER with young were observed on the Salmon River north of Napanee this week. A GREEN HERON is a regular at a small marsh off George's Road east of Northport, and GREEN HERONS are also regulars along with PIED-BILLED GREBES in Fish Lake. SCARLET TANAGERS and VEERIES were in fine fettle Wednesday evening at the Sidney Conservation Area, south of Stirling, and two WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS and a WOOD THRUSH can be depended on along the hiking trail at Quinte Conservation's Area's north end near the deciduous woods, about 2 km north of the parking lot. A SEDGE WREN was singing enthusiastically from a hay field bordering the Robinson Cove Marsh at Big Island on June 12th. While Prince Edward Point gets all the news during the spring migration, it is Sandbanks Provincial Park that is unquestionably the key area to find nesting birds in the summer. Park Naturalists there report that in addition to the now legendary nesting pair of RED-HEADED WOODPECKERS, others that have been found nesting, or show indications of holding down territory this week, have included NASHVILLE WARBLER, MOURNING WARBLER, ORCHARD ORIOLE, BROWN CREEPER and GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET. New this year have been CLAY-COLORED SPARROWS in an area of the Park where the dump is located. Another observer there during the week noted BANK SWALLOWS feeding young in their tunnels, BELTED KINGFISHER carrying food, a pair of CASPIAN TERNS and dozens of BONAPARTE'S GULLS. On Elmbrook Road, south of Picton, one resident was delighted to have a pair of NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWLS nest on her property, two of the young appearing in her backyard. For Kaiser Crossroad enthusiasts, the north pond is now completely drained and it is only a matter of days before the phenomenal bird activity that this flooded cornfield has known since April, will be but a memory. Next spring, another crop of birds. At a nest platform along County Road 9 at Hay Bay's north shore, an OSPREY there has appeared for the second year in a row, wearing a jess. We can only assume that this bird has probably belonged to a falconer at some point in time although this species is not usually popular in falconry. A Prince Edward County couple did not receive a warm welcome from feathered Ottawaonians when they visited that city last week. While they were walking past some thick bushes above the Rideau Canal, a male RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD emerged and voiced his displeasure from a lamp post. Then the bird dove at both of them and pecked the man on the back of his hatless head. Now they know why I always wear a Tilley hat! And if you think MAP TURTLES are common in the Outlet River at Sandbanks, a Belleville resident, while conducting his herpetological survey, counted no fewer than 178 sunning themselves atop a tire raft breakwater at the mouth of the Moira River in Belleville last week. Would that be a "carapace caucus"??? To close of this week's edition of the Quinte Area Bird Report, a bit of a mystery in a flooded field along Highway 15, north of Kingston on June 13th at 8:00 a.m. An observer on his way to Smith's Falls spotted a ROSEATTE SPOONBILL feeding in typical spoonbill fashion about 150 metres of the road. The bird was still there when he returned at 1:00 p.m. but was gone the following day. Don't know where it came from, don't know where it went, and we can only assume it was an escaped bird from captivity. Anyone with information on the probabil
[Ontbirds] Quinte Area Bird Report forweek ending June 11, 2009
WEEKLY BIRD REPORT FROM PRINCE EDWARD COUNTY AND THE QUINTE AREA FOR THE WEEK ENDING Thursday, June 11, 2009 Prince Edward County's first confirmed MARBLED GODWIT leads the Quinte Area Bird Report this week. The bird was observed - where else, but at the Kaiser Crossroad flooded fields. Because these are agricultural fields, owners of the land are now draining the water from them preparatory to seeding the fields once again with this year's crop of corn. The new addition now brings the Prince Edward County Bird CheckList to 348 species. Other highlights there this week included a WHIMBREL, 8 SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS, SPOTTED SANDPIPER, 46 LEAST SANDPIPERS, 12 DUNLIN, 13 BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS and 2 RUDDY TURNSTONES. Also there this week were 3 GREEN HERONS, 18 MALLARDS, 27 CASPIAN TERNS, 5 GREAT BLUE HERONS, 7 CANADA GEESE and one each of AMERICAN BITTERN, GREEN-WINGED TEAL, BLUE-WINGED TEAL and OSPREY. At a property south of Carrying Place, the owner there founds lots of raptors flying around this week including both SHARP-SHINNED and COOPER'S HAWK, and a pair of EASTERN SCREECH-OWLS involving one red morph and one grey morph, along with one young of the year bird, about 80% full grown. There was a RED-SHOULDERED HAWK calling loudly at Deroche Lake, east of Thomasburg this morning. Other birds seen there on an 8-km hike around a small section of the huge property were both WOOD THRUSH and VEERY and a singing HERMIT THRUSH. RED-EYED VIREOS and OVENBIRDS were plentiful, and other birds of note encountered were BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER, CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER, COMMON YELLOWTHROAT, AMERICAN REDSTART, YELLOW WARBLER, SCARLET TANAGER, LEAST FLYCATCHER, EASTERN TOWHEE, EASTERN WOOD-PEWEE, GREAT CRESTED FLYCATCHER, and HOUSE WREN. It would appear to be a good year for CHIMNEY SWIFTS, given the isolated reports of birds that have been seen in recent weeks. In Trenton, one observer there has been watching an old 20-metre high chimney at Gimpel Electric Supply, a location where 30 years ago was one of several areas where CHIMNEY SWIFTS would gather and nest. The old chimney is thought to be the last site in Trenton where this species is believed to be nesting. The observer watched this week as six birds entered the chimney, and assuming there were 3 pairs. At 8:30 p.m. last Wednesday night he began watching again as a few birds circled the chimney and 30 minutes later birds started to pour in the chimney as if it were a vacuum, the final tally being close to 50 birds. Another good sighting this past week were two pairs of nesting AMERICAN ROBINS, both pairs, in different areas of the region, nesting right on the ground. One pair in Sidney Township, on Forsyth Road, near Keating-Hoards Conservation Area is in the middle of a field with the closet thing for shade being a hydro pole several feet away. A similar nest at South Bay in Prince Edward County had a bit more thought involved in its placement, this one on the ground at the base of a fence post. A COMMON RAVEN was calling again this week at 23 Sprague Road where one has appeared sporadically since last winter. A BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON was seen today along the Moira River at Rotary Park in Belleville. And a GREAT EGRET was spotted south of Glen Miller. A new bird this week on the yard list of a west Big Island resident was a GREEN HERON that perched atop the branches of a dead apple tree by the shoreline and called repeatedly for several minutes before flying off after being startled by the opening of a door. WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS are calling and probably nesting at two locations, along Sprague Road and along Lakeside Drive in the Consecon Lake area. Bird feeders, with the exception of nectar feeders, have eased into a low ebb, now that the nesting season is in progress, and the only birds of interest reported this week were a NORTHERN FLICKER feeding under some feeders just west of Picton, and an EASTERN TOWHEE in a backyard along Highway 62 near Crofton. An UPLAND SANDPIPER was seen perched on a fence post last Friday along County Road 1 near Chase Road. In the Tweed area, a nest box full of TREE SWALLOWS provided some protein for a visiting BLACK BEAR who tore apart a rugged nest box, bending the metal pole and ripping the rough cut one inch pine like cardboard. On Crookston Road a WHIP-POOR-WILL has been calling nightly, and a BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO takes up the cause during the day. Canoeists on the Moira River this week spotted the nest of a BALTIMORE ORIOLE, not so much by the pendant shape of the nest itself, but by the colourful thin blue nylon twine the birds thoughtfully used to suspend the nest from the branches. At the H.R. Frink Centre near Plainfield Monday night, there were at least three VIRGINIA RAILS scurrying about the marsh boardwalk, while back in Prince Edward County along Fry Road a resident there was deeply concerned about the healt
[Ontbirds] Quinte Area Bird Report for week ending June 04, 2009
WEEKLY BIRD REPORT FOR PRINCE EDWARD COUNTY AND THE QUINTE AREA FOR THE WEEK ENDING Thursday, June 04, 2009 Prince Edward County's 3rd ever LARK BUNTING leads off this week's edition of the Quinte Area Bird Report. The male bird was seen along County Road 7 in the vicinity of Rock Crossroad on June 3rd. Just east of there, at Kaiser Crossroad, thirteen species of shorebirds have been the highlights at the flooded cornfields there, among them, a WHIMBREL on June 1st and 60 RED KNOTS on May 31st. Highs there this week of other shorebirds included BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER (200), SEMIPALMATED PLOVER (10), KILLDEER (2), GREATER YELLOWLEGS (2), RUDDY TURNSTONE (18), SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER (40), LEAST SANDPIPER (40), WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER (2), DUNLIN (80), SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER (6), WILSON'S SNIPE (1). For Prince Edward County, a good year for shorebirds. In a ploughed field on Jackson's Falls Road, east of Milford, 23 BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER were seen on the 1st. The composition of shorebirds and waterfowl changes daily it seems, and adding to the make-up of species there during the week were one each of GREEN-WINGED TEAL, AMERICAN WIGEON and RED-BREASTED MERGANSER, along with several MALLARDS. BARN SWALLOWS and TREE SWALLOWS swoop nonstop over the water for insects, and DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT, BELTED KINGFISHER, BONAPARTE'S GULLS (55), HERRING GULLS, RING-BILLED GULLS, CANADA GEESE, BLACK TERN, NORTHERN HARRIER, GREAT BLUE HERONS, HORNED LARK, AMERICAN BITTERN, and various other species have also been checked off at this oasis at the east end of North Marysburgh. Last week, there was an OSPREY taking a bath in the warm water, while a CASPIAN TERN screamed at it. Across Prince Edward Bay at the South Marysburgh peninsula, the Prince Edward Point National Wildlife Area is still producing and there were signs this week that the spring migration is still not over. A few WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS are still moving on most days, 3 WOOD DUCKS were present on the 30th and 5 were seen on the 3rd. Two LONG-TAILED DUCKS are still being seen off the Point and RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS are also still moving with up to 45 a day going past. A GREEN HERON was seen in the harbour on the 3rd. A second year BALD EAGLE was flushed from a path at Point Traverse on the 31st. SPOTTED SANDPIPERS are still being seen around the harbour and AMERICAN WOODCOCKS are still calling in the evenings. Two second year male SHARP-SHINNED HAWKS have been trapped this week. MOURNING DOVES continue to move with 14 trapped during the last week. BLACK-BILLED CUCKOOS are calling most mornings and the occasional YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO can be heard as well. A mixed bag of flycatchers are being seen daily and consist mostly of EASTERN WOOD-PEWEE, and YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHERS. WILLOW FLYCATCHERS and ALDER FLYCATCHERS were singing on the 30th. RED-EYED VIREOS have been moving and peaked at 30 on the 29th but are still being seen in good numbers. The number of pairs of CLIFF SWALLOWS around the Observatory building has increased to 10 pairs. A late RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET was caught on the 1st and a TUFTED TITMOUSE was seen and banded on the 1st and it reappeared on the 2nd. GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSHES and SWAINSON'S THRUSHES are still moving and up to 8 of each has been seen daily. The CEDAR WAXWING flock fluctuates between 50 and 200 daily. Eighteen species of warbler were seen during the week and included a BLUE-WINGED WARBLER and 15 BLACKBURNIAN WARBLERS on the 29th, and BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLERS on the 29th and 3rd. One or 2 MOURNING WARBLERS are being seen daily and 13 CANADA WARBLERS were present on the 29th of which 10 were trapped. A SCARLET TANAGER was found on the 29th as was a LINCOLN'S SPARROW . A WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW was present on the 1st and 2nd and a WHITE-THROATED SPARROW was seen on the 3rd. Lastly, a PINE SISKIN dropped in on the 29th. The Observatory has now closed for the season and will re-open on August 15th for the fall banding and monitoring. A WILSON'S WARBLER was spotted along the road to Prince Edward Point lighthouse by another observer on the 29th. At Deroche Lake east of Thomasburg today, VEERY and WOOD THRUSH were found along with dozens of singing RED-EYED VIREOS and OVENBIRDS. BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER and BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER, COMMON YELLOWTHROAT and YELLOW WARBLER were also present along with RED-SHOULDERED HAWK, LEAST FLYCATCHER, GREAT CRESTED FLYCATCHER, SCARLET TANAGER, ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK, EASTERN TOWHEE, FIELD SPARROWS, SWAMP SPARROW and BALTIMORE ORIOLES. At Big Island's South Big Island Road, a SANDHILL CRANE continues to appear periodically in a field west of 23 Sprague Road, and a MOURNING WARBLER was singing enthusiastically, hidden of course, near Baycrest Marina along North Big Island Road this week. A motorist approaching Milford one day this week paused while a confused UPLAND SANDPIPER stood
[Ontbirds] Quinte Area Bird Report for week ending May 28, 2009
WEEKLY BIRD REPORT FROM PRINCE EDWARD COUNTY AND THE QUINTE AREA FOR THE WEEK ENDING Thursday, May 28, 2009 At Prince Edward Point this past week, the American bitterns are still to be found in the area and two green herons flew over on the 26th. The canada geese numbers are slowly building up with at least 25 adults and 25 young present. Brant were moving on the 23rd and 26th with 250 and 1510 counted on those two days. The wood duck in the harbour has 11 young, offshore the numbers of WHITE-WINGED scoter and long-tailed ducks are diminishing with generally only a handful of each present, 4 bufflehead appeared on the 23rd and 1 was seen on the 24th and 26th. A flurry of red-breasted mergansers on the 26th produced 140 in a couple of hours. A broad-winged hawk was seen on the 24th and a merlin is present most days. A peregrine falcon made a meal of a dunlin ten feet from an observer on the 22nd and it reappeared again on the 24th. Five species of shorebirds have been seen this week and include peak counts of three least sandpipers on the 22nd and 250 dunlin on the 24th. Also seen on the 24th were 132 whimbrel which went past in two flocks. Four common terns went past on the 26th. Black-billed cuckoos are being seen daily and yellow-billed cuckoos were seen on the 22nd and 23rd. Whip-poor-wills have been heard calling in the evening and one was observed sitting on a branch all day near the lighthouse on the 24th. The red-headed woodpecker continues to be elusive and appears every couple of days. An olive-sided flycatcher was seen near the docks on the 24th and a total of 9 species of flycatchers have been seen this week. Vireos seem to plentiful this year with good numbers of red-eyed vireos being seen in the woods. The only ones grateful for all of this rain are the cliff swallows who are happily building nests on the buildings around the harbour. A very late brown creeper was trapped on the 23rd while ruby-crowned kinglets are rapidly decreasing with only singles being seen now. Thrushes are still moving and 45 swainson's THRUSHES were seen on the 22nd along with 8 grAy-cheeked thrushes. The EUROPEAN starlings have fledged their young which can now be seen following their parents through the trees demanding to be fed. The cedar waxwing flock has mostly gone and the numbers have dropped to about 70 a day now. Twenty-four species of warblers were seen during the week just to show us spring migration isn't quite over yet. A golden-winged warbler was found singing at Point Traverse on the 22nd and 6 Tennessee warblers were seen that day as well. Up to 80 yellow warblers are being seen daily but most of them are the local breeding birds. From 20 to 50 magnolia warblers are being seen in a day and blackpoll numbers are still going strong with up to 15 being seen daily in the bushes and trees. Most of the other species of warblers have decreased but American redstarts are going strong with up to 20 a day being counted. Mourning warblers peaked this week at 4 on the 23rd and Canada warblers are being seen daily. A pine warbler was singing around the harbour on the 23rd. White throated sparrows are hanging in with singles seen on the 24th and 26th, a white-crowned sparrow was seen on the 27th and 28th. Good birds seen for the week include a house sparrow on the 27th, our first one of the year at Prince Edward Point, a white-eyed vireo was singing in Point Traverse woods on the 22nd and a female hooded warbler was trapped on the 22nd. Finally, our Birdathon in aid of the Observatory on the 23rd would not have been complete without the finding of a yet another rarity; this year we found a western grebe swimming offshore from the lighthouse, this is the second record of this species here and occurred just 7 months after the first. The Quinte Area Bird Report would like to thank David Okines, Bander In Charge at the Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory, for his hard work in providing a weekly summary of sightings and banding activities since mid-April, which has been incorporated weekly into this report. We look forward to more of his submissions when the fall banding season starts up in August. Across Prince Edward Bay from Prince Edward Point, the Kaiser Crossroad flooded cornfields continues to draw birds and watchers of birds. In addition to SORA, 2 AMERICAN BITTERNS, BELTED KINGFISHER, CASPIAN TERNS, BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON (May 24), and GREAT BLUE HERONS, both the north and south pond hosted a flurry of shorebirds this week. Over 1,000 DUNLIN have been present since the 22nd when a major influx of the species was noted in the Quinte area, and with them have been SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHERS (4), GREATER and LESSER YELLOWLEGS, SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPERS and SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS, LEAST SANDPIPERS, BAIRD'S SANDPIPER, SANDERLINGS, SPOTTED SANDPIPERS, and turning up this afternoon were the first 3 RUDDY TURNSTONES of th
[Ontbirds] Quinte Area Bird Report for week ending May 21, 2009
and BALTIMORE ORIOLES. Meanwhile, it is uncertain what the remaining PINE SISKINS are planning to do as many feeders in the County still have at least a few putting on pounds at niger feeders. About 50 AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES are regulars at a 2800 County Road 1 feeder. INDIGO BUNTINGS and ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAKS were regulars this week at several feeders in the area. At Kaiser Crossroad, the large numbers of waterfowl may be but a memory, but the site is still worth visiting at this time of the year. This week there were highs of 80 SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPERS, 30 LEAST SANDPIPERS, 10 DUNLIN, 28 SEMIPALMATED PLOVER, and a LESSER YELLOWLEGS. An optimistic DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT is still in the shallows, and GREEN HERON, GREAT BLUE HERON, CASPIAN TERN, NORTHERN HARRIER, along with a few remaining ducks including AMERICAN WIGEON (16), MALLARDS, GADWALL and RED-BREASTED MERGANSER. Numbers of waterfowl on Muscote Bay have declined, with 60 LESSER SCAUP being the only highlight there this week. COMMON LOONS have been offshore near Massassauga all week. If we tend to think of warblers being found only at focal points such as Presqu'ile or Prince Edward Point, a Stirling resident tallied 8 species this week along one trail there. An ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER was found near the Prince Edward Point lighthouse on the 20th and a 150 YELLOW WARBLERS were estimated to be present in the area on the 17th when members of the Kingston Field Naturalists conducted their annual spring round-up. Also seen during the count were 2 RUSTY BLACKBIRDS, PEREGRINE FALCON, BROAD-WINGED HAWK, 400 CEDAR WAXWINGS, 4 late BUFFLEHEAD, SOLITARY SANDPIPER, and a total of 22 warbler species including one CERULEAN WARBLER. And that's it for this week from Prince Edward County and the Quinte Area. Our thanks to David Okines, Ron Weir, Bruce Ripley, Caroline Draper, John Blaney, Doris Lane, Charles Crowe, Kathy Willis, Jess Chambers, Tom Higginbottom, John Vernon, Henry Pasila, Nancy Smits, Donn Legate, David Bree, Pamela Stagg, Borys Holowacz, Heather Heron, Nancy Fox and Mike Runtz for their contributions to this week's report. This report will be updated on Thursday, May 28th, but sightings can be e-mailed any time before the Wednesday night deadline. Featured photo of a surprise visitor at Prince Edward Point last week on the Main Birding Page of the NatureStuff website is by Cathie Stewart of Stirling. Photos of an egg stealing RED SQUIRREL, and a PALM WARBLER, in the online edition of the Quinte Area Bird Report are by Henri Garand and Terry Sprague, respectively. 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 ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS@hwcn.org For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
[Ontbirds] Quinte Area Bird Report for week ending May 14, 2009
LA and one of the guided hikes at Point Traverse in the online edition of the Quinte Area Bird Report are by David Bree. 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 ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS@hwcn.org For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
[Ontbirds] Quinte Area Bird Report for week ending May 07, 2009
seen in good numbers with 2 on the 3rd, 7 on the 5th and four the next day. Two BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLERS were seen on the 4th and up to 125 YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS are being seen daily. BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLERS arrived on the 3rd and at least 10 were present on the 7th. BLACKBURNIAN WARBLERS are occasionally being seen and a female PINE WARBLER has been around for the last four days. A YELLOW PALM WARBLER was seen on the 4th and up to 15 WESTERN PALM WARBLERS are being seen daily. A fine singing male CERULEAN WARBLER was found at Point Traverse on the 6th. OVENBIRDS on the 2nd and COMMON YELLOWTHROATS on the 4th rounded out the latest warblers to arrive. A female SCARLET TANAGER was seen on the 3rd. SWAMP and LINCOLNS SPARROWS continue to be seen in small numbers and a SAVANNAH SPARROW was found on the 5th. Eastern WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS have started to move and up to 35 a day are being seen. ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAKS have returned and can be seen around the feeders, an INDIGO BUNTING was found at Point Traverse on the 6th just across the road from the first BOBOLINKS of the year, all 35 of them in one tree. RUSTY BLACKBIRDS continue to be found singing in the swamp and three ORCHARD ORIOLES were seen on the other side of the harbour on the 3rd. PINE SISKINS continue to move through in exceptional numbers with a peak of 130 on the 1st. AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES are also starting to increase with up to 30 present daily. Elsewhere across the region, RED-BELLIED WOODPECKERS are still at feeders in the Hay Bay area, and along Glenora Road. PINE SISKINS have finally thinned out a bit much to the delight of feeder operators and to the chagrin of bird feed suppliers, although one feeder east of Lake on the Mountain still had 130 as of the end of last week. A SHARP-SHINNED HAWK is still a regular at a feeder at Allisonville. Also at a low ebb this week has been waterfowl activity at the Kaiser Crossroad flooded cornfields, down from several thousand ducks to only a dozen or so. Present there this week were just a handful of GREEN-WINGED TEAL, NORTHERN SHOVELERS, AMERICAN WIGEON, 1 NORTHERN PINTAIL and 7 very lonely CANADA GEESE. Also present have been LITTLE GULLS (4), LEAST SANDPIPERS, LESSER and GREATER YELLOWLEGS, BELTED KINGFISHER, CASPIAN TERNS, AMERICAN BITTERNS, GREAT BLUE HERONS, NORTHERN HARRIERS, and flocks of feeding TREE SWALLOWS and BARN SWALLOWS. A park naturalist returning to Prince Edward County from Presqu'ile Park during the week was surprised to see an OTTER scurry in front of his car along County Road 1 near Consecon. With some tricky braking and maneuvering, the driver managed to straddle the otter and come to a stop. After a pregnant pause and some banging under the car, the otter emerged from under the vehicle, apparently unscathed, and continued on its way toward Consecon Lake. And that's it for this week from Prince Edward County and the Quinte area. Our thanks to David Okines, David Bree, Paul Wallace, Laura Pierce, Chesia Livingston, Donn Fanno, Silvia Botnick, Brock Kirkpatrick, Joanne Dewey, Pamela Stagg, Nancy Fox, Charles Crowe, Ove Ojaste & Mary-anne Caswell, Bill Hogg, Janet Mooney, Frank Artes & Carolyn Barnes, and Brian Durell for their contributions to this report. This report will be updated on Thursday, May 14th, but sightings can be e-mailed any time before the Wednesday night deadline. Featured photo on the Main Birding Page of the NatureStuff website of a BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE in the fast lane is by Peter Mohr of Stirling. Photos in the online edition of the Quinte Area Bird Report of a WHITE-THROATED SPARROW and a GREAT EGRET are by Derek Dafoe and Paul Wallace respectively. 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 ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS@hwcn.org For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
[Ontbirds] Quinte Area Bird Report for week ending April 30, 2009
HITE-THROATED SPARROWS are now becoming commoner with up to 120 present each day. WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS have arrived with the first on the 27th and 2 on the 28th. The first ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK arrived on the 30th. A few RUSTY BLACKBIRDS can be found most days in the swamp. PURPLE FINCHES are around in good numbers again this year with up to 75 a day being tallied. A male WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL was photographed in the woods on the 27th and PINE SISKINS are moving in really good numbers with up to 225 a day being seen; 194 have been banded here so far which far exceeds the previous best spring total of just 16. We're not finished yet. Now for the not one but three good birds seen this week. A LARK SPARROW was found and photographed on the far side of the harbour on the 25th, this is the 5th record for PEPTBO and the second in spring, the last was seen in 1987. The 29th provided two more good species with a WORM-EATING WARBLER found at Point Traverse, the first one here since 1996, although there are isolated sightings elsewhere in the County to 2004. And that evening as the wind dropped completely, four HARLEQUIN DUCKS, 3 males and a female, were found swimming about offshore; these four constitute the first spring record for here and they are only the fourth record ever, although there have been other documented sightings at Point Petre and West Point. SANDHILL CRANES have been showing up here and there in the County, and one continues to bugle throughout the day in a field west of Sprague Road on Big Island. Arrival dates of migrants reported by other observers were pretty much surpassed by those reported from Prince Edward Point. However, a few notable exceptions were BANK SWALLOW near Point Traverse on the 25th, WHITE-EYED VIREO, and a VEERY, at Point Traverse on the 27th, GREEN HERON at Fish Lake on the 28th, UPLAND SANDPIPER near Milford on the 29th, 3 SORAS at the Big Island Marsh on the 29th, BLUE-HEADED VIREO in Bloomfield on the 25th, and a GOLDEN EAGLE at Point Traverse on the 25th. Waterfowl at the Kaiser Crossroad flooded cornfields are thinning out as the fields become drier. Highs this week were CANADA GEESE (300), NORTHERN PINTAILS (300), GREEN-WINGED TEAL (132), AMERICAN WIGEON (37), and anywhere from 1 to 20 NORTHERN SHOVELERS, REDHEADS, BLUE-WINGED TEAL, RING-NECKED DUCKS, MALLARDS, GADWALL, and a single blue morph SNOW GOOSE until the 25th. Also present this week were 2 GREATER YELLOWLEGS, 14 LESSER YELLOWLEGS, 1 LEAST SANDPIPER, CASPIAN TERNS, GREAT BLUE HERON, AMERICAN BITTERN, NORTHERN HARRIERS, BARN SWALLOWS, LITTLE GULLS (10), and BONAPARTE'S GULLS (100). Muscote Bay at Big Island continues to attract ducks with LESSER SCAUP (300) well distributed over the water, interspersed with COMMON GOLDENEYE , OSPREYS and CASPIAN TERNS. The Darwin Award this week goes to a Belleville resident who has been noted by several residents harassing a nesting OSPREY along the Moira River. His method? He flies a remote controlled airplane in its direction deriving meager enjoyment as the bird repeatedly dive-bombs the strange interloper. His reply (with explicits omitted) when approached by a concerned resident? "I pay taxes too." We're still working on the connection between bird harassment and paying taxes! And that's it for this week from Prince Edward County and the Quinte area. Our thanks to David Okines, Joanne Dewey, Pamela Stagg, Garry Kirsch, Mike Burge & Kathy Felkar, Heather Heron, David Bree, Donn Legate, Angela Mantle, Dave Bell, James Barkman, Kathleen Rankine, Borys Holowacz, Laura Pierce, Rosemary Smith, Nick Quickert, Brian & Gloria Durell, Albert Boisvert, Ron Weir, Owen Weir, Ken Campbell, Mia Lane, Nancy Fox, Donna Fano, Henri Garand, Donn Legate, Ted Cullin, Don Chisholm, John Blaney, Chesia Livingston, Frank Artes & Carolyn Barnes, Lyle Anderson, Ove Ojaste & Mary-Ann Caswell. This report will be updated on Thursday, May 7th, but sightings can be e-mailed any time before the Wednesday night deadline. Featured photos of a HOUSE WREN at a nest box on the Main Birding Page of the NatureStuff website, along with a WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW and a RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET in the online edition of the Quinte Area Bird Report are all by Dave Bell of Belleville. 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 ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS@hwcn.org For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
[Ontbirds] Quinte Area Bird Report for week ending April 23, 2009
WEEKLY BIRD REPORT FOR PRINCE EDWARD COUNTY AND THE QUINTE AREA FOR THE WEEK ENDING Thursday, April 23, 2009 Things have picked up this week at Prince Edward Point to get our Quinte Area Bird Report under way this evening. A single RED-NECKED GREBE flew by on the 17th and a few HORNED GREBES have been seen from the road just before you reach the Point. CANADA GEESE (110) flew north on the 17th and 125 went north on the 22nd. WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS are increasing and peaked at 100 on the 18th and 400 on the 20th, and mixed in with them on the 20th were 65 BLACK SCOTERS including a single flock of 50. LONG-TAILED DUCKS continue to play hide and seek among the waves but at least 600 are present offshore. BUFFLEHEAD peaked at 100 on the 23rd near the lighthouse and RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS numbered 60 on the 18th. A MERLIN was present on the 18th and two AMERICAN KESTRELS were found on the 21st. A SANDHILL CRANE did a flyby on the 23rd and up to 4 KILLDEER are being seen. BONAPARTE'S GULLS are starting to build up, with 1000 feeding offshore on the 22nd. A COMMON TERN was seen on the 18th. Two to three YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKERS are being seen daily and NORTHERN FLICKERS are numbering 15 - 25 every day. At least 8 EASTERN PHOEBES were present on the 22nd which was a good day at the Point with 288 birds banded. NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOWS are back and up to 10 have been seen in a day, CLIFF SWALLOWS are also picking up and peaked at 15 on the 23rd while the first female TREE SWALLOW was seen on the 23rd. A single RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH was found on the 17th. BROWN CREEPERS are increasing and up to 50 a day are being seen. WINTER WRENS numbered 7 on the 18th and GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS are moving in good numbers with a peak of 200 present on the 22nd along with 50 RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS, the first of which was seen on the 17th. Among the arrivals on the 22nd were 16 HERMIT THRUSHES, the first BROWN THRASHER, and 280 CEDAR WAXWINGS. The first YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER of the season was found on the 17th and they numbered 30 on the 22nd. No other species of warblers have been seen yet. Five EASTERN TOWHEES were seen first thing on the 18th but none of them could be found one hour later. AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS continue to trickle through and four were seen this week. The first FIELD SPARROW was seen on the 19th and 2 were present on the 22nd. A SAVANNAH SPARROW was seen on the 18th, single FOX SPARROWS are being seen most days but 7 were found on the 22nd. SWAMP SPARROWS are becoming more common and three were seen on the 22nd. The first WHITE-THROATED SPARROW was banded on the 17th and 8 were here on the 22nd. DARK-EYED JUNCOS peaked this week at 75 on the 21st and 55 on the 22nd. A late SNOW BUNTING was seen on the beach on the 22nd and NORTHERN CARDINALS are singing every day now. RUSTY BLACKBIRDS are still scarce but 10 were singing in the wet woods on the 18th. PURPLE FINCHES are also increasing and 18 were present on the 22nd along with 20 PINE SISKINS. Bird of the week was a second year ICELAND GULL that drifted past with some RING-BILLED GULLS on the 19th. Waterfowl highs this week at the Kaiser Crossroad flooded cornfields were: CANADA GOOSE (1500), NORTHERN PINTAIL (350), GREEN-WINGED TEAL (90), AMERICAN WIGEON (71), RING-NECKED DUCK (32), NORTHERN SHOVELER (12), BUFFLEHEAD (12), AMERICAN BLACK DUCK (16), MALLARD (6 - all but disappeared), 4 each of REDHEAD, WOOD DUCK and BLUE-WINGED TEAL, GADWALL (2), and one each of SNOW GOOSE (blue morph), and AMERICAN COOT. Also present there this week were TURKEY VULTURE, NORTHERN HARRIER, 2 GREAT BLUE HERONS, 2 GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULLS, 12 HERRING GULLS, 112 BONAPARTE'S GULLS, 2 LITTLE GULLS, 15 GREATER YELLOWLEGS and close to 100 TREE SWALLOWS. Certainly a profitable spot to do some weekend birding. From Picton take Bridge Street down the "town hill" and continue on Highway 33/Loyalist Parkway, turn right before Glenora onto Lake on the Mountain Road which becomes County Road 7. Kaiser Crossroad is about 17 kilometres east from Lake on the Mountain. What sounds suspiciously like a FRANKLIN'S GULL turned up with a flock of RING-BILLED GULLS in a field that was being cultivated along Bethel Road. That has yet to be confirmed, of course, but the individual is difficult to track down as it alternates with the gulls from Bethel Road to Black Road. Also not confirmed this week is a pair of COMMON RAVENS that is reportedly building a nest on a farm silo near Wellington. If so, it would be the first documented nesting of this species in Prince Edward County as the species continues to expand its numbers here. A MERLIN was seen in Belleville on the 22nd. BROWN THRASHERS were singing this week east of Lake on the Mountain and along Sprague Road where a SANDHILL CRANE flew over early one morning. Another SANDHILL CRANE was seen in flight at South Bay. A SAVANNAH SPARROW was
[Ontbirds] Quinte Area Bird Report for week ending April 16, 2009
COTERS are moving as well. Eight SHARP-SHINNED HAWKS went over on the 16th and 1-2 a day are being seen daily. A RUFFED GROUSE has been drumming for short periods of time most days and a few WILD TURKEYS can be heard "gobbling" away. BONAPARTE'S GULLS are passing by and 50 were seen on the 16th, single CASPIAN TERNS were seen on the 11th and 12th. In the woods, MOURNING DOVES already have eggs and a few YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKERS are being seen. NORTHERN FLICKERS numbered 40 on the 15th. Two to four EASTERN PHOEBES are in the area. Up to 8 TREE SWALLOWS are present and are fighting over the nest boxes and the first BARN SWALLOW was found on the 10th. Two resident BLUE JAYS are being seen daily and 6 migrants went over on the 16th. A COMMON RAVEN was seen on the 13th while small numbers of BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEES were moving on the 11th and 13th. A WINTER WREN was seen on the 16th and BROWN CREEPERS are starting to arrive and peaked at 24 on the 15th. That other small spring migrant the GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET is starting to appear and numbered 20 on the 15th. Small numbers of AMERICAN ROBINS and CEDAR WAXWINGS are being seen and EASTERN BLUEBIRDS were seen on the 14th (2) and 16th (1). Single HERMIT THRUSHES were banded on the 14th and 15th. Occasional AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS are being seen or heard and SONG SPARROWS are singing away merrily. An early SWAMP SPARROW was trapped on the 14th and DARK-EYED JUNCOS arrived in force on the 15th when 100 were seen. A RUSTY BLACKBIRD flew over on the 12th and two went over on the 16th. A few PINE SISKINS are coming to the feeders as are a few PURPLE FINCHES. Bird of the week was a female SNOWY OWL at the start of the National Wildlife Area and a bird seen 1 km from there may have been a second one as it looked very pale as it flushed from a roadside fence. And that's it for this week from Prince Edward County and the Quinte area, Our thanks to David Okines of the Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory, Borys Holowacz, Kathy Felkar and Mike Burge, Joanne Dewey, Pamela Stagg, Janet Foster, Russ Williams, John Charlton, R. Burrell, Nancy Fox, Steven Draper, Wayne McNulty, Virginia Cresswell-Jones, Henry Pasilla, John & Margaret Moore, Lyle Anderson, Frank Artes & Carolyn Barnes, Garry Kirsch, Mike & Joyce Jaques, Heather Heron, Laura Pierce, Nancy Smits, Henri Garand, Anne Potter, Cathy Anderson, Fiona King, John Blaney, Jon Pleizier, and Brock Burr for their contributions to this week's report. This report will be updated on Thursday, April 23rd, but sightings can be e-mailed any time before the Wednesday night deadline. Featured photos this week are all by Adam Penson of Toronto. These are incredible shots and include two TREE SWALLOWS quarrelling (main Birding Page of the NatureStuff website), and a male and female EASTERN BLUEBIRD in the online edition of the Quinte Area Bird Report. 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 ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS@hwcn.org For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
[Ontbirds] Quinte Area Bird Report for week ending April 9, 2009
ureStuff website is of a WILD TURKEY at a sun deck feeder by Kathleen Rankine of Trenton. Photos in the online edition of the Quinte Area Bird Report are by Dave Bell of Belleville and include a SONG SPARROW and a CHIPPING SPARROW. 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 ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS@hwcn.org For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
[Ontbirds] Quinte Area Bird Report for week ending April 02, 2009
ontributions to this week's report. This report will be updated on Thursday, April 9th, but sightings can be e-mailed any time before the Wednesday night deadline. Featured photo on the Main Birding Page of the NATURE STUFF website of an AMERICAN KETSREL is by Borys Holowacz of Victoria Road. Photos in the online edition of the Quinte Area Bird Report include an OSPREY by Susan Shipman of Wellington, and a GREAT BLUE HERON by Garry Kirsch of Belleville. 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 ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS@hwcn.org For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
[Ontbirds] Quinte Area Bird Report for the week ending March 26, 2009
p; Carolyn Barnes, Borys Holowacz, Rosemary Smith, Pamela Stagg, Janet Mooney, Henri Garand, Ted Cullin, Fiona King, Judith Gray, Brock Burr, Nick Quickert and Brian & Gloria Durell for their contributions to this week's report. This report will be updated on Thursday, April 2nd, but sightings can be e-mailed any time before the Wednesday night deadline. Featured photo on the Main Birding Page of the NatureStuff website of the author with a cooperative BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE is by Gary O'Doherty of Belleville. Photos in the online edition of the Quinte Area Bird Report include a NORTHERN FLICKER by Susan Shipman of Wellington and a SNOW GOOSE by Michael Jaques of Ottawa. 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 ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS@hwcn.org For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
[Ontbirds] Quinte Area Bird Report for week ending March 19, 2009
d that's it for this week from Prince Edward County and the Quinte area. Our thanks to Kay Camp, Cathie Stewart, Borys Holowacz, Kathy Felkar & Mike Burge, Bill Leet, Michael & Joyce Jaques, David Bree, Wayne McNulty, Joanne Dewey, Olive Root, Fred Chandler, Donna Fano, Garry & Elaine Kirsch, Fiona King, Pamela Stagg, Steve Bolton, Cindy Stapleton, Doris Lane, Henri Garand and Michael Biro for their contributions to this week's report. This report will be updated on Thursday, March 26th, but sightings can be e-mailed any time before the Wednesday night deadline. Featured photo this week on the Main Birding Page of the NatureStuff website is a distant shot of the four GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE at Kaiser Crossroad. Photos of CANADA GEESE and an AMERICAN ROBIN in the online edition of the Quinte Area Bird Report are by Derek Dafoe of Belleville. -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 ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS@hwcn.org For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
[Ontbirds] Quinte Area Bird Report for week ending March 12, 2009
ke Burge & Kathy Felkar, John Charlton Janet Mooney and Gloria Durell for their contributions to this week's bird report. This report will be updated on Thursday, March 19th, but sightings can be e-mailed any time before the Wednesday night deadline. Our feature photographer this week is Derek Dafoe whose photo of a NORTHERN CARDINAL at the Frink Centre appears on the Main Birding Page of the NatureStuff website. Photos of LONG-TAILED DUCKS and MUTE SWANS dodging ice flows appear in the online version of the Quinte Area Bird Report. 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 ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS@hwcn.org For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
[Ontbirds] Quinte Area Bird Report for week ending March 05, 2009
QUINTE AREA BIRD REPORT FOR PRINCE EDWARD COUNTY AND THE QUINTE AREA FOR THE WEEK ENDING Thursday, March 05, 2009 SONG SPARROWS and RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS were in fine fettle early this morning along Sprague Road, indicating an early spring influx of these species into the region. Several EASTERN BLUEBIRDS were also noted along this same road five days ago. And AMERICAN ROBINS? Well, what can we say except it is difficult to determine who are migrants and who are among the many hundreds that wintered over, particularly in Prince Edward County where some estimates along the Long Point Peninsula toward Prince Edward Point ranged from 500 to 1,000 individuals. Except for predicted higher temperatures today and through the weekend, there has been little to suggest that winter has released its icy grip just yet. Still plenty of ice resulting in waterfowl sightings being sparse except for areas east toward Cressy where ducks so far have to be content with what they can get. The Moira River in Belleville still has a nice assortment where up to 100 MALLARDS are present, along with COMMON GOLDENEYE and CANADA GEESE. Six AMERICAN BLACK DUCKS were present just east of the George Street boat launch in Belleville earlier this week. PINE GROSBEAKS, rare this winter in Prince Edward County, staged an encore performance, with 8 turning up in a backyard along Bloomfield's Main Street. COMMON REDPOLLS and PINE SISKINS are still present in high numbers across the region with numbers at feeders ranging from 50 to 100 at many feeders. Three HOARY REDPOLLS are still regulars at a feeder at Lake on the Mountain, and others turned up during the week at Jackson's Falls, east of Milford. A NORTHERN SHRIKE can be seen periodically along Gorsline and Fish Lake Roads where it was first seen in early January. A PURPLE FINCH was reported at a Consecon area feeder during the week, and a BALD EAGLE over Fish Lake a few days ago was the only individual of this species reported this week, along with one in the Tweed area. Signs of spring, albeit subtle, are on the horizon with a TURKEY VULTURE spotted about 30 miles south of Syracuse by local residents returning through that area on the 4th. A WHITE-THROATED SPARROW is still at 23 Sprague Road, although others that had been regulars at other feeders in the County appear to have disappeared. A PILEATED WOODPECKER was seen on Walmsley Road, and WILD TURKEYS numbering as high as 100 or more are seen regularly along County Road 10 south of Picton. A BARRED OWL was observed perched in a tree in the Carrying Place area. Despite the frigid temperatures this week, a STAR-NOSED MOLE was seen running bravely across the road outside the Presqu'ile Provincial Park office on the 3rd, and a MORNING CLOAK BUTTERFLY, very much in dormancy yet, was found under a board at a residence along Fish Lake Road. RACCOONS are very much in evidence, particularly at my feeders at night, and a STRIPED SKUNK was wandering about on Thursday east of Lake on the Mountain. BEAVERS have been active at Big Island and off Smoke's Point Road and a RED FOX was seen at Gardenville. And that's it for this week from Prince Edward County and the Quinte area. Our thanks to Anne Potter, David Bree, Pamela Stagg, Louisa Ielo, Donn Legate, Frank Artes & Carolyn Barnes, Rosemary Smith, Ted Cullin, Donna Fano, Fiona King, Mia Lane, Mike Burge & Kathy Felkar and Anne Potter for their contributions to this week's report. This report will be updated on Thursday, March 12th,. but sightings can be e-mailed any time before the Wednesday night deadline. Featured photographer this week is Louisa Ielo of Harbard Road in Gardenville where this week's photo of the old wharf at Weller's Bay highlights the Main Birding Page of the NatureStuff website. Photos in the online edition of the Quinte Area Bird Report are of a BARRED OWL and a BEAVER. 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 ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS@hwcn.org For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
[Ontbirds] Quinte Area Bird Report for week ending February 26, 2009
a King, Ted Cullin, Lyle Anderson, Frank Artes & Carolyn Barnes, Laura Pierce, Steve Bolton, Gloria Durell, Pamela Stagg, John Blaney and Nancy Smits for their contributions to this week's report. This report will be updated on Thursday, March 5th, but sightings can be e-mailed any time before the Wednesday night deadline. Featured photos in the online edition of the Quinte Area Bird Report of a female PURPLE FINCH and a HOARY REDPOLL are by Garry Kirsch of Belleville. 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 ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS@hwcn.org For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
[Ontbirds] Quinte Area Bird Report for week ending February 19, 2009
WEEKLY BIRD REPORT FROM PRINCE EDWARD COUNTY AND THE QUINTE AREA FOR THE WEEK ENDING Thursday, February 19, 2009 Increasing numbers of RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS at feeders this week, and sightings of EASTERN BLUEBIRDS and the plethora this winter of AMERICAN ROBINS may get us thinking optimistically about spring's approach, but the aforementioned species may be nothing more than movements of those that have been present all winter. However, warmer weather during the week has freed up some of the traditionally productive waterfowl areas, providing birders with a few limited opportunities to get psyched up for the waterfowl migration ahead. After being uncharacteristically frozen solid for much of January and February, winter is finally starting to lose its grip on Wellington Harbour with open water appearing during the week, soon to be followed in the days to come with waterfowl. Waterfowl viewing these days seems to be confined mainly to Prince Edward Bay where COMMON GOLDENYES and thousands of GREATER SCAUP were present during the week. The waters of the Moira River in Belleville change as temperatures dictate, but during the week there were maximums of 200 MALLARDS, 5 COMMON GOLDENEYE, 3 CANADA GEESE and a single LESSER SCAUP at the footbridge between Coleman and Front Streets. Three COMMON GOLDENEYES continue to be seen in the Glenora Ferry channel. Other sightings, however, confirm that winter is still very much here. A SNOWY OWL at Prince Edward Point on the 14th was a welcome Valentine's Day gift for one couple, while in the Madoc area along Preston Road, the season's first reported AMERICAN THREE-TOED WOODPECKER showed up. North of Marmora, off Beaver Creek Road, a PILEATED WOODPECKER was hammering away at a suet bar in one backyard, and PILEATED WOODPECKERS also turned up at a feeder in Trenton, and in backyards at Lake on the Mountain. Along the Stinson Block, there was a PILEATED, a male HAIRY and a male DOWNY WOODPECKER all working away noisily on a single tree. A RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER continues to visit a feeder on George's Road while one house away on the same road a NORTHERN FLICKER is surviving on berries from a vine on the house. The scattered WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS that had been coming to several feeders across the region have seemingly departed although two are still at a feeder at Allisonville. A NORTHERN HARRIER visited a feeder this week west of Wellington and there were the usual scattered sightings of backyard COOPER'S and SHARP-SHINNED HAWKS along with RED-TAILED HAWKS, and an AMERICAN KESTREL that continues to be seen in the Allisonville area. While backyard owners are urged to naturalize their properties with native shrubs and trees to encourage wildlife, backyards not established yet still have considerable potential as evidenced by one west end Big Island property that had upwards of 50 SNOW BUNTINGS until this week, replaced by two HORNED LARKS this week. Up to 50 or more COMMON REDPOLLS are feeding there as well, and numbers remain high at many feeders across the county. One Bloomfield feeder has 75 COMMON REDPOLLS and 40 PINE SISKINS, and a Lake on the Mountain feeder still averages about 50 COMMON REDPOLLS on a regular basis. Overall, the population of winter PINE SISKINS appears to be dropping, although 45 are still coming to a Belleville feeder. Over 100 finches consisting of AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES, PINE SISKINS, COMMON REDPOLLS and PURPLE FINCHES are regulars at an Allisonville feeder. There is a RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH at a Murney Street feeder in Belleville. Other sightings to come in during the week involved an adult BALD EAGLE along Adolphus Reach and 2 COMMON RAVENS in the Stinson Block area west of Consecon. And to whet the appetite for spring, EASTERN BLUEBIRDS (3) at Consecon and 6 along Lighthall Road on the 15th. In the non-bird category, a family of 7 RACCOONS consuming dog kibble at a Crookston Road feeder, a GARTER SNAKE and a WOOLLY BEAR CATERPILLAR, albeit both quite dead, in the Lakeside Drive area of Consecon, and a FISHER at Prince Edward Point. Spring, it's a commin', although we can assume that winter will continue until it is finished. And that's it for this week from Prince Edward County and the Quinte area. Our thanks to Chesia and Tom Livingston, Pamela Stagg, Mike Burge & Kathy Felkar, Heather Heron, Peter van der Gulik, Wolfgang Braun, Sandra Dowds, Derek Dafoe, Marilyn Holland-Foster, Donald McClure, Brian Durell, Frank Artes & Carolyn Barnes, Shirley Preston, Henri Garand, Ted Cullin, Janet Foster and Kathleen Rankine for their contributions to this week's report. This report will be updated on Thursday, February 26th, but sightings can be e-mailed any time before the Wednesday night deadline. Photo on the Main Birding Page of the Quinte Area Bird Report of a PILEATED WOODPECKER coming to a Marmora area feeder is by Pam D
[Ontbirds] Quinte Area Bird Report for week ending February 12th
WEEKLY BIRD REPORT FROM PRINCE EDWARD COUNTY AND THE QUINTE AREA FOR THE WEEK ENDING Thursday, February 12, 2009 It may not have been on his windowsill as the popular 1940s song proclaims, but a Crowe's Road resident at Milford had one on his sundeck railing this week. It has been a good year for EASTERN BLUEBIRDS and scattered numbers continue to show up in Prince Edward County, particularly in the Milford area and south. Certainly more common than bluebirds, has been another member of the thrush family, the AMERICAN ROBIN, and a conservative estimate on Monday between Little Bluff Conservation Area and Point Traverse put the number at 500. Another observer on the 1st, estimated 1,000. Elsewhere, smaller numbers in pockets of 30 or 40 turn up across the County almost anywhere one chooses to drive. Also enjoying the warm weather this past week were four WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS that continue to patronize a feeder at South Bay, and two more showed up this week at a feeder on the east side of Picton. A NORTHERN FLICKER remains on George's Road east of Northport and a SONG SPARROW is visiting a feeder on Maitland Drive in Belleville. For the most part though, the warmer weather has resulted in a 50% drop in clientel at feeders. Exceptions are a feeder east of Milford where COMMON REDPOLLS and PINE SISKINS remain at about 100 with a Murney Street feeder in Belleville trailing in with 50 PINE SISKINS. At Big Island as many as 50 SNOW BUNTINGS have joined the regulars at a feeder near the west end of the island. Those regulars include up to 100 COMMON REDPOLLS. Two PURPLE FINCHES are at a Maitland Drive feeder in Belleville, there is a RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH at a Thurlow feeder, and five NORTHERN CARDINALS descended on a feeder in the Barrie Heights area of Trenton this week. A GREAT GRAY OWL turned up for one pair of motorists on Bronson Rapids Road off Springbrook Road and Lahey Road, south of Madoc Tuesday, the second to appear in the Madoc area this winter. Some good stuff at Prince Edward Point including 100 CEDAR WAXWINGS last week, and turning up for observers on Monday was an adult BALD EAGLE on Timber Island and 4 PINE GROSBEAKS at South Bay. WILD TURKEYS are where you find them and a fairly dependable rafter can usually be found north of Belleville along Sidney Street where this week 60 were counted just north of Bell Blvd. A COMMON RAVEN flew over Cape Vesey on yesterday. Despite the mild weather, it will be a few more days even with warm temperatures before conditions improve at some of the more popular viewing areas. One RED-NECKED GREBE early this week tired in its search for open water and dropped exhausted to the centre of Burr Road near Highway 62 where it was rescued and released in open water some distance away. In Trenton, an injured MUTE SWAN, some 40 MALLARDS, and 15 AMERICAN BLACK DUCKS continue to remain in the open water of the Trent River near the train trestle where local residents have been feeding them. Open water in the Moira River at the Belleville foot bridge this week harboured at least 400 MALLARDS, 7 COMMON GOLDENEYE, 5 AMERICAN BLACK DUCKS and a single COMMON MERGANSER. Prince Edward Bay, beyond the ice at Cressy, contained 4 REDHEADS, 1000 GREATER SCAUP, 12 BUFFLEHEADS, and 100 COMMON GOLDENEYE on Monday, while the mouth of the harbour at Prince Edward Point the same day produced 3 WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS and a hundred LONG-TAILED DUCKS. In Bloomfield, there was an AMERICAN KESTREL in a Duncan Street backyard, and both SHARP-SHINNED HAWKS and COOPER'S HAWKS put in their usual appearances at bird feeders across the region. RED-TAILED HAWKS were seen at several locations, including one perched on a feeder near Jackson's Falls, and a ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK turned up along the Old Milford Road one day last week. And that's it for this week from Prince Edward County and the Quinte area. Our thanks to Marilyn Holland-Foster, Sacha Warunkew, Patrick Davies, Lisa Castle, Peter Goode, Dave Bell, Fiona King, Rosemary Smith, Frank Artes & Carolyn Barnes, Ted Cullin, John Charlton, Henri Garand, Fred Chandler, Garry & Elaine Kirsche, Judith Gray and Russ Williams for their contributions to this week's report. This report will be updated on Thursday, February 19th, but sightings can be e-mailed any time before the Wednesday night deadline. All photos this week are by by Paul O'Toole, and include the Amherst Island BARRED OWL on the Main Birding Page of the NatureStuff website, with a COMMON REDPOLL and WHITE-WINGED SCOTER highlighting the online version of the Quinte Area Bird Report. 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 ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS@hwcn.org For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
[Ontbirds] Quinte Area Bird Report for week ending February 05, 2009
WEEKLY BIRD REPORT FROM PRINCE EDWARD COUNTY AND THE QUINTE AREA FOR Thursday February 05, 2009 As winter refuses to release its icy grip on Prince Edward County and area, this has resulted in continued brisk activity at many feeding stations across the region. Conversely, observation of waterfowl is more difficult due to the lack of open water. In many typically excellent waterfowl viewing locations along the County's south shore, there are fields of ice as far as the eye can see. Wellington Channel is barely open and Monday, there were only 6 MUTE SWANS. Two optimistic TUNDRA SWANS flew over Log Cabin Point at East Lake on Saturday, and 3 COMMON GOLDENEYES have been hanging around the icy ferry channel at Glenora. At the foot bridge in Belleville this week, the open Moira River contained 100 MALLARDS, 8 COMMON GOLDENEYE, 3 CANADA GEESE, 2 AMERICAN BLACK DUCKS, and a single LESSER SCAUP. But to see ducks well and truly, one should travel apparently to Cobourg where photos from there which arrived by e-mail during the week, depicted the shoreline absolutely covered in masses of wintering ducks, primarily MALLARDS. Regardless of the temperatures, HORNED LARKS continue to trickle into the County with scattered groups being seen fairly regularly now along roadsides and in open fields. Six EASTERN BLUEBIRDS were on County Road 4 between Fry Road and Bethel Road Sunday and there were another 3 on Zion Road in Thurlow the following day. An EASTERN TOWHEE was at a feeder along Kleisteuber/Parks Road near West Lake a weekend or two ago, and a NORTHERN FLICKER has been present along George's Road, consuming berries off a backyard vine. Lots of PILEATED WOODPECKERS reported this week, a few of them coming to feeders A FOX SPARROW has returned to a feeder east of Lake on the Mountain and a SONG SPARROW turned up at a feeder on Murney Street in Belleville last week. A BROWN CREEPER makes occasional visits to a feeding station at Barry Heights in Trenton. WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS appear to be a little more plentiful this season than in past winters and currently there are four at a South Bay feeder, and singles at feeders along Fry Road and 23 Sprague Road, and three in Allisonville. And what can we add that hasn't already been said about AMERICAN ROBINS? There are few roadsides in the County these days that don't produce little groups of 20 to 40, exploiting the bountiful crops of buckthorn and red cedar berries. Better them than me as I have tasted buckthorn berries! Fifty SNOW BUNTINGS were seen on the Adolphustown side of Glenora Ferry last week, and other isolated flocks numbering no more than 30 or so have been present on County Road 4 near Fry Road, County Road 1 (Scoharie), Stinson Block, Rosehall and along Salem Road. A very lonely PINE GROSBEAK continues to appear along North Big Island Road near Baycrest Marina where it first showed up January 6th, sometimes alternating between there and Sprague Road. Three PINE GROSBEAKS (2 happy males and a female) were present near the east end of White's Road near Smithfield on Monday. COMMON REDPOLLS and PINE SISKINS continue to be present at many feeders in only ones and twos, and in large flocks at others, while still others have none. There are at least 50 COMMON REDPOLLS at a feeder near the junction of Fry and Gagne Roads and 40 PINE SISKINS are regulars at a Trenton feeder as well as at a Belleville feeder. RED-BELLIED WOODPECKERS were reported at feeders along George's Road (2), and Consecon. Two HOARY REDPOLLS are still regulars at a Lake on the Mountain feeder. Lots of COOPER'S HAWKS and SHARP-SHINNED HAWKS, but a Huyck's Point feeder hit the jackpot this week when a BARRED OWL dropped in to do a little birdwatching of its own, not unlike the BARRED OWL on Amherst Island that has been helping itself to both BOREAL and NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWLS. A Crookston Road area feeder near Tweed has among its clientel, no fewer than 27 WHITE-TAILED DEER. The prize for the most unlikely feeder guest goes to a Massey area resident according to an e-mail circulated by Minden area resident Ron Pittaway who tells of a BOBCAT watching the feeder like a house cat. Among the suet balls and sunflower seed feeders, hangs a beaver carcass for this recent addition to the yard list. A little out of our area to be sure, but certainly worth reporting and concluding this week's Quinte Area Bird Report on a humorous note. And that's it for this week from Prince Edward County and the Quinte area. Our thanks to Peter Sporring, Garry & Elaine Kirsch, Myrna Wood, Mary Minigan, Mike Burge & Kathy Felkar, Fred Helleiner, Paul Wallace, Donald McClure, Judy Kent, Bernadette McCabe, Doris Lane, Pamela Stagg, Serge de Sousa, Frank Artes & Carolyn Barnes, Judith Gray, Janet Mooney, John & Margaret Moore, Beverley Thompson & Nik Enz, John Charlton, Rob Pinilla, and
[Ontbirds] Quinte Area Bird Report for week ending Thursday, January 29th
WEEKLY BIRD REPORT FROM PRINCE EDWARD COUNTY AND THE QUINTE AREA FOR THE WEEK ENDING Thursday, January 28, 2009 Say it isn't so! The first spring migrants with 15 cm of snow yesterday and frigid morning temperatures for much of the week? What would appear to be a northward movement of HORNED LARKS has been noted this week across Prince Edward County, with 50 seen on Bethel Road near Demorestville on the 22nd, and smaller numbers also showing up regularly since that date. COMMON CROWS (24) at Jackson's Falls Road mid-week likely represent wintering individuals as well. While suggestive of warmer weather in the offing, a few other species also represent individuals that have been present for much of the winter. Among them have been a NORTHERN FLICKER at a feeder along George's Road, WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS at South Bay (3), Allisonville (2), and Big Island (1), a BROWN CREEPER in Trenton, and a SONG SPARROW along North Big Island Road. The FOX SPARROWS reported last week at Lake-on-the-Mountain and Allisonville did not appear at feeders there this week. And six EASTERN BLUEBIRDS showed up at a residence along Babylon Road yesterday. Meanwhile both PINE SISKINS and COMMON REDPOLLS fluctuate in numbers with highs of 80 PINE SISKINS in both the Barry Heights area of Trenton, 60 on Belleville's Murney Street, and 20 in west end Belleville, and large flocks of both species coming daily to feeders along Fry Road, and 20 COMMON REDPOLLS on Tripp Road. About 80 finches comprising PINE SISKINS, HOUSE FINCHES, COMMON REDPOLLS and 4 PURPLE FINCHES have been at feeders in Allisonville, and there are two HOARY REDPOLLS east of Lake-on-the-Mountain among the 33 COMMON REDPOLLS there. COMMON REDPOLLS are reported to be increasing steadily in numbers in the Belleville area. At Bradley Crossroad, 50 AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES have been counted swarming a backyard feeder. At Waupoos, an Oregon form of the DARK-EYED JUNCO was reported at a feeder in that community. The only WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS seen involved a flock of 12 on Ridge Road exploiting the cones of a discarded Christmas spruce tree, and four that remained for 5 minutes in a Trenton backyard. A RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER has been at Waupoos, another is near Picton and there have been at least 2 in the Ameliasburgh area. Certainly far fewer RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES around this winter, with the only report this week being one at a feeder in Bloomfield. The only ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS seen this week were along Hamilton Road in Quinte West, Massassauga Road in Prince Edward County, and another over A & P in Belleville. A BARRED OWL has been hanging around a feeder on Crookston Road near Tweed, and both SHARP-SHINNED and COOPER'S HAWKS were seen at Barry Heights in Trenton. RED-TAILED HAWKS appeared along County Road 2 near Wellington, corner of Walmsley and Bond Roads near Milford, Mountain View, Trenton, and Cold Creek Road. An AMERICAN KESTREL appears most days along County Road 2, north of Wellington. PILEATED WOODPECKERS during the week were seen along Lakeside Drive at Consecon, Lake-on-the-Mountain, Trenton, and one was working on a suet bar in a backyard along Wallbridge Road in Quinte West. WILD TURKEYS this week were a bit more cooperative than in past weeks with a nice rafter of 100 in a field on County Road 17 two kilometres north of County Road 16 near Black River, 50 closer to County Road 16 (likely part of the same group), 30 south of Picton, and 8 along County Road 14 near Demorestville. The only waterfowl reported this week involved a half dozen MUTE SWANS at the Norris Whitney Dam at Consecon Lake on Friday. And that's it for this week from Prince Edward County and the Quinte area. Our thanks to Mike Burge & Kathy Felkar, Garry Kirsch, Brock Burr, Nathan Naslund, Pamela Stagg, Anne Potter, Virginia Cresswell-Jones, John Charlton, Carol Perlberg, Frank Artes & Carolyn Barnes, Jess Chambers, Donn Legate, Janet Foster, Donna Fano, Marilyn Holland-Foster, Rosemary Smith, Laura Pierce, Margaret Kirk, Ted Cullin, Brian & Gloria Durell, Doris Lane, Steve Bolton, and Heather Heron for their contributions to this week's report. This report will be updated on Thursday, February 5th, but sightings can be e-mailed any time before the Wednesday night deadline. Despite the dearth of waterfowl reported this week, our featured photos in the online edition of the Quinte Area Bird Report and on the Main Birding Page of the NatureStuff website are all of waterfowl observed earlier this month at Barcovan by photographer Derek Dafoe. 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 ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS@hwcn.org For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
[Ontbirds] Quinte Area Bird Report for week ending January 22nd
tter, Dave Bell, Serge de Sousa, Donna Fano, Rick Cathrae, Susan Shipman, Lyle Anderson, Doug & Evelyn Sloane, Gloria Durell, Janet Mooney, Henri Garand, Laura Pierce, Nancy Smitts, Nancy Fox, Dirk deBoer, Borys & Gabrielle Holowacz, Doris Lane, Frank Artes & Carolyn Barnes, Fred Chandler, Ted Cullin, Garry & Elaine Kirsch, and John Charlton for their contributions to this week's report. This report will be updated on Thursday, January 29th, but sightings can be e-mailed any time before the Wednesday night deadline. Our feature photo on the Main Birding Page of the NatureStuff Website is of the SNOW BUNTINGS at a Big Island feed tray by Henri Garand. Photos in the online edition of the Quinte Area Bird Report are both by Dave Bell of Belleville, and include one of several WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS happily feeding on pine cones along Belleville's Maitland Drive. Terry Sprague Prince Edward County tspra...@kos.net www.naturestuff.net . NatureStuff - Tours & Things seminars, presentations, consulting interpretive hikes, bus tours kayaking & canoe tours www.naturestuff.net Terry Sprague 23 Sprague Road R.R. 1, Demorestville, ON K0K 1W0 613-476-5072 (home), 613-848-4549 (cell) ___ 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/
[Ontbirds] Quinte Area Bird Report for week ending January 15, 2008
ss Chambers, Dave & Judy Bell, and Monica Mills for their contributions to this week's report. This report will be updated on Thursday, January 22nd, but sightings can be e-mailed any time before the Wednesday night deadline. Dave Bell of Belleville submits our featured photo of the week on the Main Birding Page of the NatureStuff website, of something ducks should not be doing these days, given the brisk prevailing westerlies! Photos in the online edition of the Quinte Area Bird Report are also by Dave Bell and include a BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE and a HOUSE FINCH. 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 ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS@hwcn.org For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
[Ontbirds] Quinte Area Bird Report for week ending January 08, 2009
re these moments digitally with minimal disturbance. And that's it for this week from Prince Edward County and the Quinte area. Our thanks to Kathy Felkar & Mike Burge, Rosemary Smith, Dave & Judy Bell, Sydney Smith, Heather Heron, Doris Lane, Frank Artes & Carolyn Barnes, Pamela Stagg, Fiona King, Laura Pierce, Marilyn Holland-Foster, Derek Dafoe, Fred Chandler, Serge de Sousa, Brian & Gloria Durell, Gerry Watson, Joan Laurie, Borys Halowacz, Dan Pipher, Ted Cullin, John Blaney, Nick Gromoff, Kathryn Ferguson, Janet Foster and Silvia Botnick for their contributions to this report. This report will be updated on Thursday, January 15th, but sightings can be e-mailed any time before the Wednesday night deadline. Feature photo this week on the Main Birding Page of the NatureStuff website is a MUTE SWAN head study at Barcovan by Derek Dafoe. Photos in the online edition of the Quinte Area Bird Report this week include a NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL on Amherst Island by Susan Shipman of Wellington, and a PINE SISKIN at a Victoria Road feeder by Borys Halowacz. 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 ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS@hwcn.org For instructions to join or leave ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdssetup.php ONTBIRDS Guidelines may be viewed at http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdsguide.php
[Ontbirds] Quinte Area Bird Report for week ending January 01, 2009
upwards of 300 COMMON MERGANSERS, 50 COMMON GOLDENEYES and an undetermined number of MALLARDS, LONG-TAILED DUCKS and CANADA GEESE were noted during the week by two observers. Right now, the more sheltered waters of the Outlet River at its head waters at Log Cabin Point is a good spot to get a full complement of all three swan species. On the 24th, there were 2 TRUMPETER SWANS, 2 TUNDRA SWANS and numerous MUTE SWANS observed from the Glendon Green boat launch off County Road 18. Other good sightings during the week included 8 PINE GROSBEAKS at the H.R. Frink Centre, 2 NORTHERN SHRIKES on Babylon Road, 2 RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES and a GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET at Sandbanks, PILEATED WOODPECKER at Adolphustown , 2 NORTHERN HARRIERS at Huff's Island and Big Island Marsh, and singles of COMMON RAVENS at Huff's Island and Royal Road in the County, and at Trenton. Probably the best sighting of the week came in just moments before this report went to press, involving a GREAT GRAY OWL just west of O'Hara Mill Conservation Area, northwest of Madoc. And that's it for this week from Prince Edward County and the Quinte Area. Our thanks to John Blaney, Pamela Stagg, Sacha Clarke-Squair, Paul Thompson, Don Craighead, Mike Burge & Kathy Felkar, Joanne Dewey, Derek Dafoe, Pam Joho, Michele Lintern-Mole, Frank Artes & Carolyn Barnes, Susan Shipman, Donna Fano, Nancy Smits, Fred Chandler, Janet Mooney, Sidney Smith, John Vieira, Henri Garand, Suzanne Pierson & Tom Higginbottom, Doris Lane, Ted Cullin, Paul Taylor and Steve Bolton for their contributions to this week's report. This report will be updated on Thursday, January 8th, but sightings can be e-mailed any time before the Wednesday night deadline. Featured photo this week on the Main Birding Page of the NatureStuff website is a BOREAL OWL, taken on Amherst Island by Susan Shipman of Wellington. Photos in the online edition of the Quinte Area Bird Report include one of about 20 wintering AMERICAN ROBINS at the Frink Centre, taken by Derek Dafoe, and a WHITE-THROATED SPARROW at a feeder in Belleville by Donna Fano 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 ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS@hwcn.org For instructions to join or leave ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdssetup.php ONTBIRDS Guidelines may be viewed at http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdsguide.php
[Ontbirds] Quinte Area Bird Report for the week ending December 25, 2008
onville, and not to be outdone was a flock (murmuration) of EUROPEAN STARLINGS numbering 300 at Allisonville, but also tying for first place was a gaggle of CANADA GEESE (300) in a field near Wellington. For the first time this winter in respectable numbers, was a flock of SNOW BUNTINGS, numbering some 300, seen today along County Road 1 near McFaul Road, and another 10 later on May Road. CACKLING GEESE (5) showed up with a gaggle of 550 CANADA GEESE at Sandbanks Provincial Park on the 20th along with a single HORNED GREBE. Proving that birds are where you find them, at a freshly manured field along County Road 24 (Point Petre Road) on the 20th, one birder counted 59 RUSTY BLACKBIRDS and a single RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD feasting on the bonanza. Two more RUSTY BLACKBIRDS were seen near the Cherryvale Organic Farm along County Road 10, and 15 COMMON GRACKLES and 2 RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS were tallied by the same observer in downtown Cherry Valley. A GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET and a PILEATED WOODPECKER at Sandbanks on the 20th, 2 COMMON RAVENS at Big Island, and an AMERICAN KESTREL at Wellington, were also noteworthy sightings this past week. All three species of swans were present on the 20th off Wellington Beach, involving 3 TUNDRA SWANS, 59 MUTE SWANS and two TRUMPETER SWANS #861 and #052. Area residents are hoping that #052 will one day cease her roaming and settle down. Since being released at Big Island in June of 2006, she has travelled to New York, Connecticut, back to New York, then returned to Prince Edward County, alternating between Log Cabin Point at Sandbanks and Wellington. And that's it for this Christmas morning, December 25th. Our thanks to Fred Chandler, Pamela Stagg, Chris Ireland, Adam Penson, Janet Foster, Jess Chambers, Tyler Hoar, Frank Artes & Carolyn Barnes, Laura Pierce, Brian & Gloria Durell, Nick Quickert, Ted Cullin, Fred Helleiner, Nancy Fox, Michael Lintern-Mole, Doris Lane, Mark Leeming, Marilyn Holland-Foster, Bill Hogg, and David Bree for their contributions to this week's report. This report will be updated on New Year's Day, but sightings can be e-mailed any time before the Wednesday night deadline. The feature photo on the Main Birding Page of the NatureStuff website this week is a SHORT-EARED OWL taken at Amherst Island by Paul O'Toole. Photos in the online edition of the Quinte Area Bird Report are of a WOOD DUCK by Adam Penson, and TRUMPETER SWAN #052 by Paul Kenney. 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 ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS@hwcn.org For instructions to join or leave ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdssetup.php ONTBIRDS Guidelines may be viewed at http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdsguide.php
[Ontbirds] Quinte Area Bird Report for week ending December 18, 2008
m all, although an individual perched in a tree at Mountain View Airport is worth mentioning in as much as there was a COMMON CROW perched just above it, while at Stirling the opposite was true where a RED-TAILED HAWK was observed buzzing a tree full of COMMON CROWS. RED-TAILED HAWKS were only two of several raptors noted by the observer north of Stirling during the week, other raptors including GREAT HORNED OWL, NORTHERN HARRIER, SHARP-SHINNED HAWK. A NORTHERN HARRIER can be seen most days over the Big Island Marsh. And that's it for this week from Prince Edward County and the Quinte area. Our thanks to David Bree, John Blaney, Henri Garand, Ted Cullin, Joanne Dewey, Judy Bell, Donna Fano, Fiona King, Patricia Bartle, Kathleen Rankine, Janet Foster, Rosemary Kent, Chesia Livingston, Doris Lane, Janet Mooney, Peter Mohr, Donald McClure, Marilyn Holland-Foster and Cheryl Anderson for their contributions to this week's report. This report will be updated on Thursday, December 25th, but sightings can be e-mailed any time before the Wednesday night deadline. The feature photo on the Main Birding Page of the NatureStuff website is by the author of a birder in action during the Presquìle Christmas Bird Count. Photos in the online edition of the Quinte Area Bird Report are by Dave Bell of Belleville, and include an AMERICAN TREE SPARROW and a RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH. 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 ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS@hwcn.org For instructions to join or leave ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdssetup.php ONTBIRDS Guidelines may be viewed at http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdsguide.php
[Ontbirds]Quinte Area Bird Report for week ending December 11, 2008
rsday, December 18th, but sightings can be e-mailed any time before the Wednesday night deadline. The feature photo on the Main Birding Page of the NatureStuff website this week is a PILEATED WOODPECKER at a feeder in Trenton, taken by Kathleen Rankine. Photos in the online edition of the Quinte Area Bird Report are by this week's feature photographer Paul O'Toole, of a SNOWY OWL and a NORTHERN GOSHAWK. 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 ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS@hwcn.org For instructions to join or leave ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdssetup.php ONTBIRDS Guidelines may be viewed at http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdsguide.php
[Ontbirds]Quinte Area Bird Report for week ending December 04, 2008
ected at this time of the year were present, along with 2 GADWALL off Point Traverse. At Big Island's Muscote Bay, ice there keeps shifting, but on the 2nd, there were a couple COMMON MERGANSERS, 30 COMMON GOLDENEYE, 4 TUNDRA SWANS and 50 CANADA GEESE, accented by the appearance of an adult BALD EAGLE to get the winter list off to an impressive start. At Barcovan, a passing skein of CANADA GEESE included an all white individual that turned out to be a feral goose and not a snow goose. And that's it for this week from Prince Edward County and the Quinte area. Our thanks to Pamela Stagg, Gerry Walker, Susan Withers, Rosemary Kent, Albert Boisvert, Helen Graham, Anne Potter, Kathleen Rankin, Nancy Fox, Janet Mooney, Janet Foster, Henri Garand, Nick Quickert, Brian Durell, Brock Burr and Tyler Hoar for their contributions to this week's report. This report will be updated on Thursday, December 11th, but sightings can be e-mailed any time before the Wednesday night deadline. Feature photo on the Main Birding Page of the NatureStuff website this week is a BALD EAGLE by Susan Shipman. Photos in the online edition of the Quinte Area Bird Report include a RING-NECKED PHEASANT by Susan Shipman, and a NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD by Adam Penson. - Terry Sprague Prince Edward County [EMAIL PROTECTED] 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 instructions to join or leave ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdssetup.php ONTBIRDS Guidelines may be viewed at http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdsguide.php
[Ontbirds] Quinte Area Bird Report for week ending November 27, 2008
Iceland Gull and a flock of 6 KILLDEER ! And that's it for this week from Prince Edward County and the Quinte area. Our thanks to Joanne Dewey, Nick Quickert, Angela Mantle, Bruce Ripley, Dave Shannon, Brian & Gloria Durell, Kevin Spafford, Fiona King, Donna Fano, Steve Bolton, John Charlton, Laura Pierce, Fred Chandler, Henri Garand, Rosemary Kent, Brock Burr, Charles Crowe, and Janet Mooney for their contributions to this week's report. This report will be updated on Thursday, December 4th, but sightings can be e-mailed any time before the Wednesday night deadline. Photo of two RING-BILLED GULLS on the Main Birding Page of the NatureStuff website is by the author. Photos in the online edition of the Quinte Area Bird Report of a RED-TAILED HAWK and a close-up of a DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT are by Adam Penson and the author, respectively. Terry Sprague Prince Edward County [EMAIL PROTECTED] 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 instructions to join or leave ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdssetup.php ONTBIRDS Guidelines may be viewed at http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdsguide.php
[Ontbirds]Quinte Area Bird Report for week ending November 20, 2008
k from Prince Edward County and the Quinte area. Our thanks to Pamela Stagg, Kathy Felkar, Bruce Ripley, Owen Weir, Nancy Fox, Fiona King, Cheryl Anderson Cathie Stewart, Doug & Evelyn Sloane, Donn Legate, Borys Holowacz, Henri Garand, Kathleen Rankine, Donna Fano, John & Margaret Moore, John Charlton, Marilyn Holland-Foster, Janet Foster, Fred Chandler, Paul Mackenzie, Fred Helleiner, and Lyle Anderson for their contributions to this week's report. This report will be updated on Thursday, November 27th, but sightings can be e-mailed any time before the Wednesday night deadline. Featured photo on the Main Birding Page of the NatureStuff website is an update of last week's photo by Nancy Fox, this time showing a shrike killed shrew wedged in the roof of a bird feeder. Photos in the online edition of the Quinte Area Bird Report this week are by Laura Pierce, of a RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH at a feeder and a RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER on a bag of suet. Terry Sprague Prince Edward County [EMAIL PROTECTED] 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 instructions to join or leave ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdssetup.php ONTBIRDS Guidelines may be viewed at http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdsguide.php
[Ontbirds]Quinte Area Bird Report for week ending November 13, 2008
er feeder. Photos in the online edition of the Quinte Area Bird Report are by Dave Bell of Belleville this week, and include an AMERICAN TREE SPARROW and a DARK-EYED JUNCO. Terry Sprague Prince Edward County [EMAIL PROTECTED] 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 instructions to join or leave ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdssetup.php ONTBIRDS Guidelines may be viewed at http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdsguide.php
[Ontbirds] Quinte Area Bird Report for the week ending November 06, 2008
eve Bolton, Henri Garand, Pamela Stagg, Borys Holowacz, Angela Mantle, Fred Chandler, and Glen Helm for their contributions to this week's report. This report will be updated on Thursday, November 13th, but sightings can be e-mailed any time before the Wednesday night deadline. Featured photo on the Main Birding Page this week is by Henri Garand of a faceoff between bird bander David Okines and a NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL. Photos in the online edition of the Quinte Area Bird Report are both by Adam Penson, of a COOPER'S HAWK and a GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET. Terry Sprague Prince Edward County, [EMAIL PROTECTED] 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 instructions to join or leave ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdssetup.php ONTBIRDS Guidelines may be viewed at http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdsguide.php
[Ontbirds]Quinte Area Bird Report for week ending October 30, 2008
netting has been hampered by the strong winds and rain. A late BLUE-HEADED VIREO was seen on the 29th and RED-EYED VIREOS were trapped on the 26th and 27th. Kinglets are slowing down as the season comes to an end and a peak of 16 GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS and 8 RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS were seen on the 27th. HERMIT THRUSHES are coming to an end as well but AMERICAN ROBINS continue to move through in reasonable numbers and peaked at 120 on the 27th. A VESPER SPARROW was banded on the 25th. CHIPPING SPARROWS are hanging in with new birds being caught every few days, a late SWAMP SPARROW was banded on the 26th, and 30 to 40 DARK-EYED JUNCOS are still present. A flock of 22 LAPLAND LONGSPURS flew over on the 24th as did 4 SNOW BUNTINGS. Five more SNOW BUNTINGS were seen on the 29th. PURPLE FINCHES are definitely on the move and up to 600 a day are going over, AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES are increasing and have started to come to the feeders, meanwhile PINE SISKINS are passing over but not in any great numbers. And that other winter finch, the COMMON REDPOLL, flew over in small flocks totaling 35 on the 29th. The Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory will close for the season after banding on the 31st and will reopen in early April. Observatory Manager David Okines hopes everyone has a good winter. The Quinte Area Bird Report thanks David for his tireless efforts in providing weekly summaries every Thursday evening, and we look forward to his report again when banding gets under way in the spring. And that's it for this week from Prince Edward County and the Quinte area. Our thanks to David Okines from the Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory, Pamela Stagg, Paul Thompson, Anne Potter, Viviane Jennings, John & Janet Foster, Nick Quickert, Nancy Fox, Russ Williams, Frank Artes & Carolyn Barnes, John Charlton, John & Margaret Moore, Paul Mackenzie, Ted Cullin, and Heather Heron for their contributions to this week's report. This report will be updated on Thursday, November 06, but sightings can be e-mailed any time before the Wednesday night deadline. Featured photo on the Main Birding Page is of John & Janet Foster who were guest speakers at the Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory fundraising dinner Photos in the online edition of the Quinte Area Bird Report include a NORTHERN SHRIKE by Lloyd Hanna and a DARK-EYED JUNCO by Carol Perlberg. - Terry Sprague Prince Edward County [EMAIL PROTECTED] 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 instructions to join or leave ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdssetup.php ONTBIRDS Guidelines may be viewed at http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdsguide.php
[Ontbirds] Quinte Area Bird Report for the week ending October 23, 2008
WEEKLY BIRD REPORT FROM PRINCE EDWARD COUNTY AND THE QUINTE AREA FOR THE WEEK ENDING Thursday, October 23, 2008 We begin our Quinte Area Bird Report at Prince Edward Point where a RED-THROATED LOON was seen on the 17th. Twenty-five COMMON LOONS were seen the next day as were 20 HORNED GREBES and 6 RED-NECKED GREBES. The DOUBLE CRESTED CORMORANTS roosting on the shoal typically number less than a hundred now but 500 were seen on the 18th. A GREAT BLUE HERON was in the harbour on the 22nd. A few small groups of CANADA GEESE are going over and a flock of 27 WHITE-FRONTED GEESE that flew over were seen by two separate observers on the 22nd. Four NORTHERN PINTAIL have joined the MALLARDS in the harbour while offshore up to 5000 GREATER SCAUP can be seen daily as can up to 150 WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS. The first BUFFLEHEAD of the fall was seen on the 22nd and the first LONG-TAILED DUCK was seen on the 18th and 17 were present on the 20th. Raptor activity has slowed down but a female PEREGRINE FALCON flew past on the 18th. Five BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER were seen on the beach on the 19th and 8 flew past on the 22nd. A DUNLIN was noted on the 5th as well. An EASTERN SCREECH-OWL was banded on the 19th, a BARRED OWL was seen on the 23rd and a SHORT-EARED OWL was seen along Babylon Road on the 18th. NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWLS are few in numbers at the moment and 82 have been banded during the week. A NORTHERN SHRIKE was seen along Babylon Road on the 18th. Two BLUE-HEADED VIREOS were banded on the 23rd and were the first for 5 days signaling an end to these birds for the fall. AMERICAN CROWS (25) were present on the 19th and 14 HORNED LARKS flew over in a flock on the 19th. WINTER WRENS, BROWN CREEPERS and both KINGLETS have been creeping through all week but no big numbers of them have been counted. An EASTERN BLUEBIRD was noted on the 18th and 15-20 HERMIT THRUSHES are being seen daily. AMERICAN ROBINS have been moving and 110 flew over on the 17th followed by 180 on the 18th. A late NASHVILLE WARBLER was trapped on the 18th and a late BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER was banded on the 17th. A young male BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLER has been retrapped most days during the week and few YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS have been seen this week. A late COMMON YELLOWTHROAT was seen on the 17th. The first AMERICAN TREE SPARROW of the fall was banded on the 17th and a FOX SPARROW was caught on the 20th. Up to ten banded WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS are hanging around the Observatory and up to 50 DARK-EYED JUNCOS are around as well. A few RUSTY BLACKBIRDS are going over and peaked at 50 on the 18th and 46 on the 19th. COMMON GRACKLES (550) flew past on the 22nd and 11 BROWN-HEADED COWBIRDS went over on the 18th. PURPLE FINCHES are moving and peaked at 100 on the 18th. The last bird of note for the week was a CACKLING GOOSE mixed in with a flock of 14 CANADA GEESE on the 19th. A few observations elsewhere in the County parallel those seen at Prince Edward Point in the past week. Although the first BUFFLEHEAD at Prince Edward Point was seen on the 22nd, three appeared three days earlier in the Bay of Quinte just south of Massassauga. These were joined by several MALLARDS, 9 MUTE SWANS and several DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS. One sharp observer, a person out commercial fishing of all things, watched intently as a flock of several thousand DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS streamed down the Long Reach (Bay of Quinte) apparently herded by an approaching tug boat. This person's interest and patience paid off for in amongst them was a single GREAT CORMORANT. This was a case of being in the right place at the right time, as it was for a motorist driving Highway 62 over the Sawguin Creek south of Belleville when a late GREAT EGRET flew over. Two residents walking along Gorsline Road on the 18th found the season's first NORTHERN SHRIKE to match the individual found the same day at Prince Edward Point. Singles here and singles there, certainly in sharp contrast to "thousands" of EUROPEAN STARLINGS, COMMON GRACKLES and RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS that have been covering many backyards as well as agricultural fields this past week - highs of 2000 estimated by a observer on Tripp Road, the same number passing over Picton yesterday, and a thousand, mostly juvenile birds, at Allisonville. Impressive numbers too on Muscote Bay when 100 to 150 HOODED MERGANSERS turned up there today. Also present on Muscote Bay have been 6 LESSER SCAUP, 100 more unidentified scaup farther out, and 4 AMERICAN WIGEON. A walk along the Millennium Trail in the Picton area on Sunday, produced 25 AMERICAN PIPITS happily feasting in a freshly manured field. Eight YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS were still present at Horse Point where they were seen cavorting in the water between the rocks on shore. A motorist driving along Sprague Road was forced to stop as a group of six WILD TURKEYS casually walked across the road and dis
[Ontbirds]Quinte Area Bird Report for week ending October 16, 2008
Road residence on the Bay of Quinte, and 250 or so CANADA GEESE, some of which are wandering about on the driveway. In other wildlife news, a few MONARCH BUTTERFLIES are still being seen here and there as warm temperatures and sunny skies keep them active, although any seen these days have worn and tattered wings. The 7th annual Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory fund raising Dinner is being held at the Waring House Inn and Banquet Hall on the 25th, commencing at 6:00 p.m., with guests speakers Canadian nature film makers John and Janet Foster who will speak on their Polar adventure to the Arctic and Antarctica. Tickets are still available, but must be purchased or set aside by tomorrow, at the latest. And that's it for this week from Prince Edward County and the Quinte area. Our thanks to David Okines of the Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory, Marilyn Holland-Foster, Joanne Dewey, Yvette Bree, Donald McClure, John & Margaret moore, and Kathy Felkar for their contributions to this week's report. This report will be updated on Thursday, October 23rd, but sightings can be e-mailed any time before the Wednesday night deadline. Photos in the online edition of the Quinte Area Bird Report include the Kamikaze RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER at a Bloomfield peanut feeder, taken by Donald McClure, and a BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER, taken by Adam Penson. The featured photo on the Main Birding Page of the NatureStuff website is of a RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH upstaging its photographers John & Janet Foster. Terry Sprague Prince Edward County [EMAIL PROTECTED] 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 instructions to join or leave ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdssetup.php ONTBIRDS Guidelines may be viewed at http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdsguide.php
[Ontbirds] Quinte Area Bird Report for the week ending October 09, 2008
5 was seen on the 6th. A RUSTY BLACKBIRD was singing from the treetops on the 7th. Across the County, the scene reflects what has been happening at Prince Edward Point. If it isn't large numbers of DARK-EYED JUNCOS in most area backyards, it is certainly YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS as the latter species flit about the bushes and search for remaining insects and spiders around doorsteps and window sills. RED-BREASTED NURTHATCHES are starting to appear, and one is visiting a feeder in the Consecon Lake area. Another late RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD, to almost match the late sighting at Prince Edward Point, was still visiting a nectar feeder on Sheba's Island on Saturday. There have been EASTERN BLUEBIRDS in the Stinson Block area, and a late ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK turned up during a drizzling rain at a feeder along the south shore of Consecon Lake on the 3rd. The COMMON RAVEN still appears occasionally over 23 Sprague Road at Big Island. EASTERN PHOEBES are still present in Trenton. Not much has changed in the variety of birds at feeders across the region. AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES, and increasing numbers of BLUE JAYS and BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEES and, of course, the arriving numbers of DARK-EYED JUNCOS seem to be the story of the day. Eight WILD TURKEYS are coming to a feeder near Cape Vesey, and a SHARP-SHINNED HAWK was checking out the clientel at one feeder east of Lake-on-the-Mountain this week, where a number of CEDAR WAXWINGS has also been present. A conducted fall colour bus tour to Algonquin Provincial Park yesterday, didn't allow time for much birding, and at one point in the tour, a GRAY JAY landed uninvited and unannounced to the hand of one passenger, expecting to find something edible. Other birds seen during walks that I conducted included RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES, COMMON RAVENS, BLUE JAYS, BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEES, SHARP-SHINNED HAWK, and an AMERICAN PIPIT was heard as it flew overhead. At the H.R. Frink Centre at Plainfield Sunday, there were swarms of YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS along the Cedar Trail and with them were a few WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS and a male BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLER. And that's it for this week from Prince Edward County and the Quinte area. Our thanks to David Okines of the Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory, Pamela Stagg, Janet Mooney, Robert Flemming, Kathleen Rankine, John & Margaret Moore, Fred Chandler, Marilyn Holland-Foster and Ted Cullin for their contributions to this week's report. This report will be updated on Thursday, October 16th, but sightings can be e-mailed any time before the Wednesday night deadline. Feature photo on the Main Birding Page of the NatureStuff website was submitted by David Okines and was taken by Dennis Smyth, of the FORK-TAILED FLYCATCHER. Photos in the online edition of the Quinte Area Bird Report include a BARRED OWL at Crookston Road by Peter Sporring, and a YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER by Adam Penson. Terry Sprague Prince Edward County [EMAIL PROTECTED] 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 instructions to join or leave ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdssetup.php ONTBIRDS Guidelines may be viewed at http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdsguide.php
[Ontbirds]Quinte Area Bird Report for week ending October 02, 2008
RBLERS continue to move and 17 species were recorded this week. ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS were seen on the 26th and 29th, as were single NORTHERN PARULAS on those same dates. MAGNOLIA WARBLER numbers have dropped off as have BLACKPOLL WARBLERS. Species still moving in reasonable numbers include BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLERS which had a peak of 40 on the 27th. YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS have started to increase and peaked at 100 on the 30th. A late NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH was trapped on the 28th and the 2nd saw 3 OVENBIRDS banded. A SCARLET TANAGER that was still showing signs of moult was banded on the 2nd. A ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK was caught on the 29th, DARK-EYED JUNCOS are being seen more frequently and the first migrant flocks of RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS and COMMON GRACKLES flew over on the 2nd. AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES are moving and up to 200 in a day are being recorded. A single PINE SISKIN was noted on the 1st. And that's it for this week from Prince Edward County and the Quinte area. Our thanks to David Okines of the Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory, Cathy Anderson, Barry Pinsky, Pamela Stagg, Charles Crowe, Frank Artes & Carolyn Barnes, Ken & Shirley Joyce, Wayne McNulty, Janet Mooney, Fred Chandler, John & Margaret Moore, Ted Cullin, John & Janet Foster and John Charlton for their contributions to this week's report. This report will be updated on Thursday, October 9th, but sightings can be e-mailed any time before the Wednesday night deadline. Feature photo on the Main Birding Page of the NatureStuff website is by Terry Sprague, of CWS employees Chip Weseloh and Dave Moore conducting mortality counts on Scotch Bonnet Island. Photos in the online edition of the Quinte Area Bird Report are both by Adam Penson, of a GOLDEN-CROWNED and a RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET. Terry Sprague Prince Edward County [EMAIL PROTECTED] 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 instructions to join or leave ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdssetup.php ONTBIRDS Guidelines may be viewed at http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdsguide.php
[Ontbirds] Quinte Area Bird Report for week ending September 25, 2008
WEEKLY BIRD REPORT FROM PRINCE EDWARD COUNTY AND THE QUINTE AREA FOR THE WEEK ENDING Thursday, September 25, 2008 As might be expected, the tempo of the fall migration is starting to pick up at Prince Edward Point, so we will start our weekly report there and gradually work our way west across the county. A RED-THROATED LOON was seen on the 21st and 1 or 2 COMMON LOONS are being seen daily. TURKEY VULTURES are increasing and peaked at 57 on the 24th. CANADA GEESE (150) flew over on the 21st, and 8 AMERICAN WIGEON were seen at the entrance to the harbour with the MALLARDS on the 22nd. A single RED-BREASTED MERGANSER was seen on the 19th and others joined it during the week, and the flock near the lighthouse numbered 87 on the 24th. A third year and a second year BALD EAGLES were seen on the 19th and 22nd respectively. Two RED-TAILED HAWKS were present on the 23rd/24th and 5 AMERICAN KESTRELS were present in a kettle of TURKEY VULTURES on the 23rd. Three BONAPARTE'S GULLS were seen on the 22nd but few gulls are being seen on the lake at the moment. An EASTERN SCREECH-OWL was banded on the 19th and the first NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL of the fall was trapped on the night of the 21st/22nd. Six were trapped on the 23rd/24th and numbers should continue to increase as we get nearer October. A GREAT HORNED OWL was calling on the 23rd/24th as well. The first YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKERS, two of them, showed up on the 22nd and the number of NORTHERN FLICKERS are slowly increasing. An OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER was seen near the Observatory on the 21st but did not hang around. EASTERN WOOD-PEWEES have been seen on two dates and a YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHER was banded on the 22nd. EASTERN PHOEBES arrived on the 19th and 1-2 a day have been seen since. BLUE HEADED and RED-EYED VIREOS continue to move in reasonable numbers and a PHILADELPHIA VIREO was trapped on the 24th. BLUE JAYS are moving in earnest now and peaked at 1200 on the 24th, a COMMON RAVEN was calling on the 24th as well. The numbers of BROWN CREEPERS is slowly increasing as are GOLDEN and RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS with peaks of 30 GOLDENS on the 23rd and 12 RUBYS on the 24th. SWAINSON'S and GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSHES continue to pass through in small numbers. Fifteen species of warblers were noted this week and the first ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER arrived on the 22nd with another bird seen the next day. A NORTHERN PARULA was banded on the 23rd, CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLERS appear to have moved on but YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS are starting to show up now with up to 20 being seen daily. BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLERS (20) were seen on the 22nd, as was a BAY-BREASTED WARBLER. BLACKPOLL WARBLERS are declining in numbers and single AMERICAN REDSTARTS have been seen daily during the week. Two WILSON'S WARBLERS were seen on the 20th. CHIPPING SPARROWS are starting to be seen again and the first SONG SPARROW for nearly two weeks was found on the 24th. WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS are increasing and a peak of 25 occurred on the 24th. A WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW was seen along Babylon Road and DARK-EYED JUNCOS are starting to be seen at the Point and along the roadway in. A single ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK was seen on the 22nd. AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES are starting to move through in good numbers and up to 120 a day are going over, but very few are visiting the feeders and most seem to prefer to feed in the cedar trees. On September 21st, two members of the Kingston Field Naturalists tallied a respectable list at Prince Edward Point with some of the highlights being 200 BRANT in flight, 1 AMERICAN BLACK DUCK, 3 immature BALD EAGLES, 6 RED-EYED VIREOS, 1 WINTER WREN, and an AMERICAN WOODCOCK. Among the warblers checked off were NORTHERN PARULA, 35 YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS, BAY-BREASTED, NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH, COMMON YELLOWTHROAT and both BLACK-THROATED GREEN and BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLERS. Three COMMON RAVENS were also noted by the duo. Elsewhere across the county, many sightings reflect what was seen at Prince Edward Point. As many as four COMMON RAVENS circled daily above the Woodlands Campground at Sandbanks Provincial Park all week, calling incessantly as they did so. A SANDHILL CRANE flew over on the campground on Tuesday, and a PEREGRINE FALCON was seen at West Point late this afternoon. At least three HORNED GREBES and well over 100 WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS were present today in Athol Bay at the Park. The migration of BLUE JAYS was ongoing throughout the week at the Park, and one flock this morning contained over 80 individuals. About a half dozen EASTERN PHOEBES were present during the week, and a TENNESSEE WARBLER was seen on Monday, along with RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS, a YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER, and a PILEATED WOODPECKER was present there for much of the week. Eight WILD TURKEYS were seen by several observers during the week along County Road 12, near the four-way stop. There was a GREAT EGRET at Northport on the 15th, and two GREEN HERONS
[Ontbirds] Quinte Area Bird Report for week ending September 18, 2008
SE-BREASTED GROSBEAKS. Fifteen BLUE-HEADED VIREOS were seen on the 16th along with 6 PHILADELPHIA VIREOS. BLUE JAYS have started to move and the first flocks started on the 16th when 55 were seen with 120 being noted the following day. One to three RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES are being seen daily and the month's first WHITE-BREASTED at the Point was seen on the 16th. BROWN CREEPERS continue to trickle through and the first WINTER WRENS arrived on the 16th and 17th. The 17th also saw the first RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET of the fall and the 18th saw the first GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET. Thrushes also continue to trickle through with SWAINSON'S THRUSH being the commonest species seen. A WOOD THRUSH was banded on the 15th. Twenty-two species of warblers were recorded for the week. A late YELLOW WARBLER was banded on the 16th and a CAPE MAY WARBLER was banded on the 17th. Four YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS were seen on the 15th and BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLERS are putting in a better appearance with a peak of 10 on the 16th. A PINE WARBLER was trapped on the 18th and was a nice male instead of the usual dull females we normally see here. The first WHITE-THROATED SPARROW was banded on the 16th and the first DARK-EYED JUNCO of the fall was trapped on the 17th. SCARLET TANAGERS have been seen on most days this week. Three RUSTY BLACKBIRDS on the 16th were new for the fall. Bird of the week was a HOODED WARBLER that was banded on the 16th and is the first fall record for the Observatory. And that's it for this week from Prince Edward County and the Quinte area. Our thanks to David Okines, Mike Carmody, Ken & Shirley Joyce, Eileen Whitmore, John Blaney, Charles Crowe, John & Margaret Moore, Fred Chandler, Doris Lane, Ted Cullin, Laura Pierce, Janet Mooney, Gloria Durell, Cheryl Anderson, Henri Garand, and John Charlton for their contributions to this week's report. This report will be updated on Thursday, September 25th, but sightings can be e-mailed any time before the Wednesday night deadline. Feature photo on the Main Birding Page of the NatureStuff website is one of the signs of fall - the flocking of thousands of starlings, taken by Henri Garand. Photos in the online edition of the Quinte Area Bird Report are of a GIANT SWALLOWTAIL larvae by Laura Pierce of Waupoos, and a GIANT SWALLOWTAIL adult, taken on Grape Island in Muscote Bay by Terry Sprague. Terry Sprague Prince Edward County [EMAIL PROTECTED] 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 instructions to join or leave ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdssetup.php ONTBIRDS Guidelines may be viewed at http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdsguide.php
[Ontbirds] Quinte Area Bird Report for week ending September 11, 2008
ON FLICKERS in abundance. RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRDS are still coming to feeders. And a little story to finish off this week's report. A young BLACK BEAR (featured in the online edition of this report) made on group of hikers a bit nervous on a hike at Rock Dunder near Jones Falls. The group had almost returned to the parking lot when they sense a presence and turned around to notice a bear following no more than 30 feet behind, not menacingly but more curious than anything else. One of the members of the group captured a photo with the bear still following, then eventually veering off into the bush. And that's it for this week from Prince Edward County and the Quinte area. Our thanks to David Okines, John Blaney, Lyle Anderson, Brock Burr, Janet Foster, Orland French, John Charlton, Henry Pasilla, John & Margaret Moore, Fred Chandler, Dave Bell, Kathleen Rankine, Doug McRae and Joanne Dewey for their contributions to this week's report. This week's report will be updated on Thursday, September 18th, but sightings can be e-mailed anytime before the Wednesday night deadline. Feature photo on the Main Birding Page of the NatureStuff website is of the DOUBLE-BREASTED CORMORANT colony on Snake Island by Terry Sprague. Photos in the online edition of the Quinte Area Bird Report are of the BLACK BEAR at Rock Dunder by Orland French, and a family of OSPREYS at Zwick's Park by Donna Fano. Terry Sprague Prince Edward County [EMAIL PROTECTED] 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 instructions to join or leave ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdssetup.php ONTBIRDS Guidelines may be viewed at http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdsguide.php
[Ontbirds] Quinte Area Bird Report for week ending September 4th, 2008
N that was banded on the 3rd and is only the second fall record. In keeping with the caterpillar theme, at least 7 PANDORA SPHINX caterpillars (two light green ones, two dark brown ones and the rest light brown) all about 3 inches long and a WAVED SPHINX caterpillar can be seen behind the Observatory. The GIANT SWALLOWTAIL caterpillars are now about 3/4 of an inch long. And that's it for this week from Prince Edward County and the Quinte area. Our thanks to David Okines, Kent Hawkins, John Charlton, Chesia Livingston, Suzanne Pierson & Tom Higginbottom, Laura Pierce, Bernie McCabe, Heather Heron, Justin White, John & Margaret Moore, Henri Garand, Bill Leet, Cheryl Anderson, Henry Pasila, Ted Cullin and David Bree for their contributions to this week's report. This report will be updated on Thursday, September 11th, but sightings can be e-mailed any time before the Wednesday night deadline. Feature photo on the Main Birding Page of the NatureStuff website is of a sizable flock of DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS taking off from Muscote Bay by Henri Garand. Photos in the online edition of the Quinte Area Bird Report are both by Bernie McCabe of Cobourg showing a NORTHERN CARDINAL feeding a BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD. Terry Sprague Prince Edward County [EMAIL PROTECTED] 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 instructions to join or leave ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdssetup.php ONTBIRDS Guidelines may be viewed at http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdsguide.php
[Ontbirds]Quinte Area Bird Report for week ending August 28, 2008
is report will be updated on Thursday, September 4th, but sightings can be e-mailed any time before the Wednesday night deadline. Feature photo on the Main Birding Page of the NatureStuff website is apt to either offend or amuse and that's all I am going to say about it. Photos in the online edition of the Quinte Area Bird Report are of a male ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK and a juvenile by Carol Perlberg, and a CEDAR WAXWING by Donna Fano. Terry Sprague Prince Edward County [EMAIL PROTECTED] 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 instructions to join or leave ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdssetup.php ONTBIRDS Guidelines may be viewed at http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdsguide.php
[Ontbirds]Quinte Area Bird Report for week ending August 21, 2008
laying at Prince Edward Point. Eleven CITRINE FORKTAILS were found by the same observer at both Prince Edward Point and Sandbanks, along with 2 WANDERING GLIDERS and a SPOT-WINGED GLIDER. There were lots of GIANT SWALLOWTAILS and VICEROY BUTTERFLIES at the Danforth Road wetland. And that's it for this week from Prince Edward County and the Quinte area. Our thanks to David Okines, John Blaney, Bruce Ripley, Kathy Felkar, Laura Pierce, Evelyn & Doug Sloane, John & Janet Foster, Cathie Stewart, John & Margaret Moore, Gloria Durell, Heather Heron, Mike Carmody, and Kathy McPherson for their contributions to this week's report. This report will be updated on Thursday, August 28th, but sightings can be e-mailed any time before the Wednesday night deadline. Feature photo on the Main Birding Page of the NatureStuff website is a LEAST BITTERN, taken at Beaver Meadow Wildlife Management Area at East Lake by Peter Sporring. Photos in the online edition of the Quinte Area Bird Report include another LEAST BITTERN photo by Peter Sporring, and a CITRINE FORKTAIL by Bruce Ripley. Terry Sprague Prince Edward County [EMAIL PROTECTED] ___ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS@hwcn.org For instructions to join or leave ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdssetup.php ONTBIRDS Guidelines may be viewed at http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdsguide.php
[Ontbirds]Quinte Area Bird Report for week ending August 14, 2008
27;s report. This report will be updated on Thursday, August 21st, but sightings can be e-mailed any time before the Wednesday night deadline. Feature photo on the Main Birding Page of the NatureStuff website is a BARN SWALLOW by Adam Penson. Photos in the online edition of the Quinte Area Bird Report include a GIANT SWALLOWTAIL by Borys Holwacz of Ameiasburgh, and a RED-HEADED WOODPECKER by Bob McFee of Stirling. Terry Sprague Prince Edward County [EMAIL PROTECTED] 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 instructions to join or leave ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdssetup.php ONTBIRDS Guidelines may be viewed at http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdsguide.php
[Ontbirds]Quinte Area Bird Report for week ending August 07, 2008
ooney, Janet Foster, Margaret Kirk, Wayne McNulty, Joe Bartok, Steve Bolton, Carolyn Barnes, John Vieira, Heather Heron, Marilyn Holland-Foster, Ted Cullin, Donna Fano, Pamela Stagg, Marc Vermander, Ove & Mary-Ann Ojaste, David Okines, Brock Burr, Laura Pierce, and John Charlton for their contributions to this week's report. This report will be updated on Thursday, August 14th, but updates can be e-mailed any time before the Wednesday night deadline. Feature photo on the Main Birding Page of the NatureStuff website is of an OSPREY platform at Frankford where the birds have created an innovative approach to protection from the elements. Photos in the online edition of the Quinte Area Bird Report include a HOUSE WREN by Laura Pierce and an immature BALD EAGLE by John Vieira. Terry Sprague Prince Edward County [EMAIL PROTECTED] 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 instructions to join or leave ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdssetup.php ONTBIRDS Guidelines may be viewed at http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdsguide.php
[Ontbirds]Quinte Area Bird Report for week ending July 31, 2008
WEEKLY BIRD REPORT FROM PRINCE EDWARD COUNTY AND THE QUINTE AREA FOR THE WEEK ENDING Thursday, July 31, 2008 The sighting of both BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER and BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER at Madoc's O'Hara Mill Conservation Area on Sunday, is a reminder that the warbler migration soon will be underway. Fall bird banding commences at the Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory in just two weeks, and we look forward once more to contributions from the Observatory's head bander, David Okines. If it seems like only last week when the spring warblers were passing through, so it seems reasonable to assume that it will seem just as short of time before we will be experiencing the spring migration once again. In the meantime though, we wait with anticipation to see what the fall migration brings us this year. BALTIMORE ORIOLES, mainly juvenile birds, continue to visit nectar feeders across the region, and seed feeders are beginning to see the return of chickadees, nuthatches and woodpeckers. Along Glenora Road, one feeder there has a RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER and two juveniles joining the regular clientel, which includes up to 20 ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAKS. A feeder in Allisonville has BROWN THRASHER and ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK as regulars, and another feeder in Trenton has an embarrassed bald BLUE JAY, a phenomenon that frequently occurs in cardinals and jays when either unreachable mites or abnormal moults causes the bird to lose all its feathers about the head and neck - one of the featured photos in the online edition of this report. INDIGO BUNTINGS can still be seen and heard singing at Stirling, Sandbanks Provincial Park and on the west side of Trenton. COMMON MOOREHENS, BLUE-WINGED TEALS, AMERICAN BITTERNS and both HERMIT THRUSH and WOOD THRUSH were reported from the Stirling area. GREAT CRESTED FLYCATCHER and WOOD-PEWEE were among the finds along a hiking trail at Madoc last weekend, and MALLARDS, GREAT BLUE HERONS and OSPREY were found during a hike Monday evening along the Moira River at Belleville's West Riverside Park. Something becoming increasingly rare in Prince Edward County in recent years is the UPLAND SANDPIPER, but one lucky birder found two in one day - one on Jericho Road and the other along Fish Lake Road, both seen perched on telephone lines. A BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO was seen at Gardenville. Two TRUMPETER SWANS from the 2006 release in Prince Edward County, Numbers 861 and 044, turned up in a swampy area along Closson Road, northwest of Wellington on the 28th. One of them, #044, had spent the first winter in New York and Connectiticut, while #861 hung around the Sandbanks area. However, both are males, dashing our hopes of a first breeding in the county. And that's it for this week from Prince Edward County and the Quinte area. Our thanks to Wendy Dawes, David Bree, Sydney Smith, Kathy Willis, Fred Chandler, Cheryl Anderson, John & Margaret Moore, Janet Mooney, Kathleen Rankine, Margie Cameron, Silvia Botnick, Brian dURELL Cathie Stewart for their contributions to this week's report. This report will be updated on Thursday, August 7th, but sightings can be e-mailed any time before the Wednesday night deadline. Feature photo on the Main Birding Page of the NatureStuff website is by Donna Fano of an AMERICAN GOLDFINCH on a sunflower. Photos in the online edition of the Quinte Area Bird Report include the balding BLUE JAY by Kathleeen Rankine of Trenton, and the two Closson Road TRUMPETER SWANS by Wendy Dawes. Terry Sprague Prince Edward County [EMAIL PROTECTED] 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 instructions to join or leave ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdssetup.php ONTBIRDS Guidelines may be viewed at http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdsguide.php
[Ontbirds]Quinte Area Bird Report for week ending July 24, 2008
WEEKLY BIRD REPORT FROM PRINCE EDWARD COUNTY AND THE QUINTE AREA FOR THE WEEK ENDING Thursday, July 24, 2008 Advocates of outdoor clothes lines, me included, continue to promote the cost saving advantages over using electric dryers. However, newcomers to the clothesline scene need to know that clothes should be brought in, once dry. It would seem that one pair of sweat pants had been hanging on the line too long, as a Tweed resident reported this week that a pair of HOUSE WRENS were now nesting in one of the legs! As the season winds down, backyards now in the Quinte area are filled with the sight of juvenile BALTIMORE ORIOLES visiting feeders. At Sheba's Island, a DOWNY WOODPECKER there swings back and forth between an oriole and a hummingbird feeder in its quest for nectar. ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAKS that nested locally continue to make use of feeders, and one over zealous juvenile in the Madoc area during the week collided with a window, but was soon on its way after a brief recovery. It is an interesting mixture with some birds still nesting and others going through the preliminaries of fall migration. COMMON GRACKLES numbering nearly 100 descended on one sundeck near Madoc during the week, and AMERICAN ROBINS have also been seen staging in the Harmony Road area of Thurlow. TREE SWALLOW numbers are increasing daily on utility wires, and a large number of CEDAR WAXWINGS comprising numerous juvenile birds were noted in the Cloyne area, and blackbirds are flocking in the Stirling area. A juvenile RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH dropped into a feeder during the week along Harmony Road and has been present most days. Closer to home, a BONAPARTE GULL was observed near Grave Island at the mouth of Sawguin Creek last week, along with MUTE SWAN, OSPREY, SPOTTED SANDPIPER and BELTED KINGFISHER. Monday night, 2 GREEN HERONS were present at the H.R.. Frink Centre's marsh boardwalk where other birds seen included MARSH WREN, SWAMP SPARROW, VIRGINIA RAIL and RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD. A GREEN HERON has also been present this week in Thurlow, and others were seen in the last several days at Roblin Lake, Robinson Cove, and Sandbanks Provincial Park. At the latter location, a male INDIGO BUNTING continues to sing vociferously from poplars at the West Lake dune area, and poplars in west Trenton have attracted another singing male there. A partial albino COMMON GRACKLE has been frequenting a backyard on the west side of Belleville, and a GREAT BLUE HERON was looking optimistically at a family of carp in the Glenwood Cemetery Pond in Picton on the 16th. In the Trenton area, three MERLINs turned up yesterday, in the same location where a pair nested last year. As the autumn season approaches, the fall migration will soon be in full swing. Some species of shorebirds have been turning up in local areas for some weeks, and warblers are not far behind. The fall banding season at Prince Edward Point commences in mid-August, so stay tuned. And that's it from Prince Edward County and the Quinte area. Our thanks to Brock Burr, Wes Truak, Shirley Laundry, Steven Draper, Fiona King, Steve Bolton, Kathleen Rankin, Cathie Setwart, Ted Cullin, Pamela Stagg, Henri Garand, John & Margaret Moore, Janet Foster and Judith Gray for their contributions to this week's report. This report will be updated on Thursday, July 31st, but sightings can be e-mailed at any time during the week before the Wednesday night deadline. Feature photo on the Main Birding Page of the NatureStuff website is of a troublesome nuthatch as a photographer tries to take a photo, photo by Janet Foster. Feeder Photos in the online edition of the Quinte Area Bird Report include AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES and a ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK by Sidney Smith of Wellington. Terry Sprague Prince Edward County [EMAIL PROTECTED] 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 instructions to join or leave ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdssetup.php ONTBIRDS Guidelines may be viewed at http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdsguide.php
[Ontbirds]Quinte Area Bird Report for week ending July 17, 2008
WEEKLY BIRD REPORT FROM PRINCE EDWARD COUNTY AND THE QUINTE AREA FOR THE WEEK ENDING Thursday, July 17, 2008 The sighting of LEAST SANDPIPERS and LESSER YELLOWLEGS at Presqui'le this week is a firm reminder that summer is on the wane and the autumn migration is in the offing, at least, for some birds anyway. This morning there were fully two dozen juvenile BOBOLINKS in an unharvested hay field at 23 Sprague Road, an example of the kind of success rates that can be experienced when hay fields are cut later in the season. KILLDEER were seen this week in numbers along County Road 1, probably in staging mode, and TREE SWALLOWS are becoming more numerous on utility wires these days. The migration urge is upon them. Meanwhile other birds are still nesting, and the 131 PURPLE MARTINS banded at a colony near Highway 62 and Jericho Road is an example of success that all martin landlords would love to experience. Obviously few if any apartment vacancies there, and likely the same story across the county with the OSPREY as certainly every available nest platform has been occupied this season, and at least a dozen locations as well where the species has nested atop light standards in ball parks, and one nesting on a communications tower along Fish Lake Road. At Zwick's Park, even a noisy waterfront festival didn't deter a pair at a nest platform from carrying on with their household duties right in the thick of things as maintenance vehicles came and went below them, a spectacular fireworks display at night and a helicopter during the day. One OSPREY was observed bringing in a large goldfish, likely obtained from the ornamental pond behind Reid's Dairy in Belleville where one was observed with a goldfish last week! A SANDHILL CRANE was heard calling from a field west of Sprague Road on the 12th, CHIMNEY SWIFTS (2) were observed flying above the Lower Trent Region Conservation office off Wooler Road on the 14th, and BLACK-BILLED CUCKOOS were noted during the week north of Stirling. A VESPER SPARROW was singing Monday evening along the Millennium Trail between Picton and Sandy Hook Road, and two WILD TURKEYS this week wandered onto a Picton backyard on Laird Lane on the eastern outskirts of town. BALTIMORE ORIOLES, ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAKS and INDIGO BUNTING are among the guests at a summer feeder along Glenora Road, along with some 25 BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEES, 8 DOWNY WOODPECKERS, 8 each of PURPLE and HOUSE FINCHES, and 2 RED-BELLIED WOODPECKERS. Despite the building boom in the Maitland Drive area of Belleville in recent years, one resident there in the Deerfield subdivision (the 'deer' have left this 'field', he said!), a respectable clientel of birds continues to frequent some backyards at least, including BROWN THRASHERS, ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAKS and NORTHERN CARDINALS. At Prince Edward Point, even the birds have adopted the Green movement, it seems. An observer there on Wednesday noted that a pair of HOUSE WRENS had recycled a used CLIFF SWALLOW nest and were busy taking in food and carrying off fecal sacs. One of the wrens was wearing a leg band, likely banded in the banding shelter located only a stone's throw away from the nest itself. Obviously no lingering memories there of being captured, processed and banded. At Big Island's Muscote Bay, an resident there noted two COMMON LOONS, one calling across the bay, and another closer to the near shore. The two loons started calling to each other in a wonderful dialogue or duet of alternating parts that last for two minutes. Their voices were distinct - one deep and liquid, the other falsetto. They neither flew away or moved closer. As suddenly as their calling began, it stopped "as if they had lost a cell phone signal." And that's it for this week from Prince Edward County and the Quinte area. Our thanks to Henry Pasila, Donna Fano, Jack Evans, Serge de Sousa, Kathleen Rankine, Angela Mantle, John Charlton, Fiona King, Henri Garand, Russ Williams, Silvia Botnick, Peter Mohr and David Bree for their contributions to this week's report This report will be updated on Thursday, July 24th, but sightings can be e-mailed any time before the Wednesday night deadline. Feature photo on the Main Birding Page of the NatureStuff website is of the Zwick's Park OSPREY on her nest with a helicopter hovering just behind her. Photos in the online edition of the Quinte Area Bird Report are of a LESSER YELLOWLEGS by Derek Dafoe, and the Zwick's Park OSPREY returning from a successful hunt with a large goldfish in its talons. Terry Sprague Prince Edward County [EMAIL PROTECTED] 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 instructions to join or leave ONTBIRDS v
[Ontbirds]Quinte Area Bird Report for week ending July 03, 2008
WEEKLY BIRD REPORT FROM PRINCE EDWARD COUNTY AND THE QUINTE AREA FOR THE WEEK ENDING Thursday, July 03, 2008 As of June 28th, the pair of MOURNING WARBLERS could still be found in the Scot's Pine plantation at Sandbanks Provincial Park's West Lake Sector. While we tend to think of warblers in terms of spring migration only, seen in May, then not again until fall when they migrate south, it is surprising how many do remain in this area to nest. Another MOURNING WARBLER turned up in Cherry Valley. The Trans Canada Trail at Tweed Monday night produced COMMON YELLOWTHROAT and CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER, and there were plenty of COMMON YELLOWTHROATS and an AMERICAN REDSTART calling near a small wetland along Boundary Road at Roslin the same night. At least a half dozen warbler species regularly nest in Prince Edward County, and another half dozen or so species have been observed enough times during the summer months to suggest possible breeding. Finding birds during the summer months is more a case of being in the right place at the right time. A RING-NECKED PHEASANT continues to call early every morning from the south shore of the Big Island Marsh where it has been doing so since early spring. Recently, a motorist came upon the bird wandering the roadside of County Road 15 near the Sophiasburgh Cemetery. Two BALD EAGLES passed over Tripp Road yesterday, and although not as profoundly exciting as the eagles, an AMERICAN KESTREL was seen along Murphy Road at South Bay the same day. VIRGINIA RAILS and occasionally a PIED-BILLED GREBE can be heard most mornings in the Big Island Marsh, and a chance walk past a wetland along the Millennium Trail off Danforth Road west of Wellington last week, produced a COMMON MOORHEN, AMERICAN BITTERNS, BLACK TERNS, SWAMP SPARROWS, MARSH WRENS, COMMON YELLOWTHROATS, GREAT BLUE HERON and VIRGINIA RAILS. This is a great little wetland, far removed from the flow of traffic, and always guaranteed to produce. At least three of the four LEAST BITTERNS that were first noted in mid-May are still present, and can be heard calling at night. A LEAST BITTERN was also heard at a small marsh in Carrying Place, and others turned up in the Stirling area. At a small cattail marsh along George's Road, east of Northport, both an AMERICAN BITTERN and a GREEN HERON have been present this summer. And an encouraging note from one observer, CHIMNEY SWIFTS seem to have made something of a comeback in the Quinte area with individuals seen at Brighton, Trenton, and in Belleville's east end. And that's it for this week from Prince Edward County and the Quinte area. Our tanks to Doris Lane, Janet Foster, John Blaney, Lyle Anderson, Judy Kent, Henri Garand, Beth McPherson, Erin McGaulay and Cathie Stewart for their contributions to this week's report. This report will be updated on Thursday, July 10th, but sightings can be e-mailed anytime before the Wednesday night deadline. Feature photo on the Main Birding Page of the NatureStuff website by Dave Bell of Belleville is a late evening silhouette of a TREE SWALLOW as it contemplates the journey south. Photos in the online edition of the Quinte Area Bird Report is of the RING-NECKED PHEASANT along County Road 15, taken by Henri Garand of Big Island, and an all revved up AMERICAN REDSTART, taken by Mike Carmody of Tweed. Terry Sprague Prince Edward County [EMAIL PROTECTED] 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 instructions to join or leave ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdssetup.php ONTBIRDS Guidelines may be viewed at http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdsguide.php
[Ontbirds]Quinte Area Bird Report for week ending June 26, 2008
WEEKLY BIRD REPORT FROM PRINCE EDWARD COUNTY AND THE QUINTE AREA FOR THE WEEK ENDING Thursday, June 26, 2008 Now that the young of the year of some species are out of their nests, we are beginning to hear different sounds out there, some of them new to many ears. During a hike along Prince Edward County's Millennium Trail last weekend, the young of numerous BALTIMORE ORIOLES could be heard in the Wellington area, and a few were eventually spotted calling from tangles of wild grape and Virginia creeper. In the Jericho Road area, an egg count was taken of a PURPLE MARTIN colony with an impressive 171 eggs in 39 nests, certainly a success that not every landlord can claim as the species continues to decline in many areas. A nest of YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKERS near Elmbrook is one of very few nesting records of this species in Prince Edward County, except for a reference to nesting in 1930, and more recently, confirmed nesting during the recent Breeding Bird Atlas effort. Last weekend, the pair was observed feeding young at the nesting site, the female arriving three times with food, and the male once. And at Sandbanks Provincial Park, optimism for the pair of RED-HEADED WOODPECKERS nesting there near the Dunes Beach Day Use Area parking lot escalated when one adult bird was seen removing a fecal sac out of the nest yesterday. At other locations, other species are singing happily away, and among them was a NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD in the Coleman Street area of Belleville, its finder reporting that the bird had an amazing repertoire of backyard birds. Another NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD was seen yesterday in Prince Edward County along Highway 49 near Mount Carmel Road. And according to one regular contributor to this weekly report who is holidaying in the States, the place to see mockingbirds is on the White House grounds and in Arlington Cemetery where several were seen and heard this week. After a decline in the area, due probably to a gradual disappearance of suitable habitat, it was a treat last weekend to hear at least four VESPER SPARROWS in as many locations along the Millennium Trail between Benway Road and Greer Road, west of Wellington. The wetland just northwest of Danforth Road along the same trail produced several BLACK TERNS, MARSH WRENS, SWAMP SPARROWS and two VIRGINIA RAILS, the latter remaining out in the open for several minutes. No LEAST BITTERNS were noted at this time, but one was seen during the week at Perch Cove at Hay Bay. Two GREAT EGRETS surprised one observer at Paliser Creek along Frankford Road, north of Belleville on the 21st, and GREAT EGRETS have also been seen at the Fox Pond along Telephone Road west of Trenton. MOURNING WARBLERS in the Scott's pine plantation area at Sandbanks Provincial Park's West Lake Sector, are likely nesting, and likewise with several PINE WARBLERS that have been heard in the area. We still await the first nesting since the early 1950s of BALD EAGLES, but the sighting of an adult bird in the Morrison's Point area, not far from where a nest platform was erected last December, provides encouragement. Other interesting sightings over the last several days include a SCARLET TANAGER in the Elmbrook area, WHITE-THROATED SPARROW at Sandbanks Provincial Park, more BLACK TERNS at Sandbanks Provincial Park near the mouth of the Outlet River, and 2 at Madoc in the Cooper Road and Queensboro Road area. A WHITE-THROATED SPARROW was singing along the Oivi Nature Trail at the Menzel Centennial Provincial Park, north of Deseronto where no fewer than 4 VEERIES were also singing. Two GREEN HERONS kept pace with a party of hikers during an interpretive hike last night along Potter Creek at the Quinte Conservation Area in Quinte West, and 2 INDIGO BUNTINGS were seen during the week in Bloomfield. And that's it for this week from Prince Edward County and the Quinte area. Our thanks to Heather Heron, Kathy McPherson, Peter Mohr, Susan Vanden Dosch, Joanne Dewey, Donna Fano, Doris Lane, Serge de Sousa, Joanne Dewey, Doug & Evelyn Sloane, Kathleen Rankine, and John Charlton for their contributions to this week's report. This report will be updated on Thursday, July 03, but sightings can be e-mailed anytime before the Wednesday night deadline. Feature photo on the Main Birding Page of the NatureStuff website is by Dave Bell of Belleville, of a HOUSE WREN peering out of a nest box. Photos in the online edition of the Quinte Area Bird Report include a NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD by Alan Cullum of Salem, and a GREAT EGRET by Susan Shipman of Wellington. Terry Sprague Prince Edward County [EMAIL PROTECTED] 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 instructions to join or leave ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/info
[Ontbirds]Quinte Area Bird Report for week ending June 19, 2008
WEEKLY BIRD REPORT FROM PRINCE EDWARD COUNTY AND THE QUINTE AREA FOR THE WEEK ENDING Thursday, June 19, 2008 This is the time of the year when we concentrate less on what may be moving through our backyards, to those birds that have decided to either nest there, or simply stop for a visit. One Fish Lake resident whose backyard joins not only a wetland, but also a wooded area, had plenty of interesting sightings this past week. In addition to MUTE SWANS and CANADA GEESE with young being the norm from the window, other frequent visitors to the backyard have included OSPREY, GREEN HERON, AMERICAN BITTERN, BROWN THRASHER and ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK. Another extraordinary backyard in the Tweed area has many of the above mentioned species, along with WHIP-POOR-WILL and SCARLET TANAGERS. And at a bird feeder in the Oak Hills area near Stirling, a RED-HEADED WOODPECKER has been a regular at a bird feeder there, appropriately enough, on Bird Road. Detailed directions will be given privately if any one is interested in seeing the bird. At least three of the four LEAST BITTERNS that were present in the Cold Creek wetland along the Millennium Trail off Danforth Road west of Wellington, are still present, according to a Pennsylvania birder who visited the site late one night a week ago. Also present were VIRGINIA RAIL, MARSH WRENS and BLACK TERNS. A PILEATED WOODPECKER was seen in one Picton backyard, and RED-BELLIED WOODPECKERS during the week turned up at Morrison's Point, along County Road 13, and at Sandbanks. One RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER south of Picton along County Road 10, depicted in the online version of the Quinte Area Bird Report, was photographed doing a Linda Blair imitation from the popular 1970s movie The Exorcist! A female WILD TURKEY saunters regularly into one garden at Bradley Crossroad. The home owner attributes the appearance to interest in the bird feed; however, the turkey could be casing the joint for what may be appearing later in the garden. In other bird sightings around the county, a very vocal SHARP-SHINNED HAWK was seen doing exercises of its own over the Fitness and Aquatic Centre in Picton this week. Wesley Acres Road is often a good spot to find HORNED LARKS, usually along the open fields just on either side of the Millennium Trail crossing, and three were seen there on the 14th. Outside the county, along Palace Road near Napanee, UPLAND SANDPIPERS were noted during the week, a species that we seem to have all but lost in Prince Edward County due to natural succession resulting in unsuitable habitat. At Vanderwater Conservation Area at Thomasburg on the 16th, SCARLET TANAGERS, ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAKS, GREAT CRESTED FLYCATCHER, RED-EYED VIREO and WOOD THRUSH were all singing away at the same time in apparent merriment. A pair of sharp eyes on a guided interpretive hike later that evening spotted a MUSK TURTLE in the shallows along the Moira River. While long dead, but no less interesting, a well formed inverted carapace from a SNAPPING TURTLE was found near a picnic table, and we can only trust that it hadn't been used there during a picnic as a chip dish ! A couple golf course stories came in during the week. One involved an AMERICAN BITTERN near Madoc seen in the open near a wetland edge as golfers approached in search of a lost golf ball. In true fashion, the bird pointed its beak toward the zenith and began swaying back in forth rhythmically with the light breeze. The golfers failed to find their ball, but they had a great view of the bittern. At another golf course at CFB Trenton, while two golfers there waited to tee off at the 10th hole, a BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD approached and started flirting with them, with tail raised, until she turned her attention to a couple of males of her own kind that approached later. Until then, the female cowbird had been stalking the golfers, approaching to within an arm's length. A male INDIGO BUNTING can be heard most days in the West Lake Sector of Sandbanks Provincial Park where it can usually be seen at the very top of poplars in the area. Another is coming to a feeder just east of Lake on the Mountain. A pair of NORTHERN GOSHAWKS is nesting again this year at Vanderwater Conservation Area. The male is extremely aggressive and regularly dive-bombs any hiker that is in the area of the nest. And that's it for this week from Prince Edward County and the Quinte area. Our thanks to Jackie & Bob McFee, Russ Williams, Jeffrey Territo, Judith Gray, Margaret Kirk, Kathleen Rankine, Ron Hirschorn, Pamela Stagg, Heather Heron, Janet Foster, Mike Carmody, Lyle Anderson, and Mia Lane for their contributions to this week's report. This report will be updated on Thursday, June 26th, but sightings can be e-mailed any time before the Wednesday night deadline. Feature photo on the Main Birding Page of the NatureStuff website is of the RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER by Lyle
[Ontbirds]Quinte Area Bird Report for week ending June 12, 2008
ver a ridge. And that's it for this week from Prince Edward County and the Quinte area for this week. Our thanks to Donna Fano, John Charlton, Jeffrey Territo, Henri Garand, Evelyn Sloane, Fiona King, Doris Lane, Suzanne Pierson, Angela Mantle and Donn Legate for their contributions to this week's report. This report will be updated on Thursday, June 19th, but sightings can be e-mailed any time before the Wednesday night deadline. Featured photo on the Main Birding Page is by the author and shows the VIRGINIA RAIL approaching our tape recorder at the H.R. Frink Centre. Photos in the online edition of the Quinte Area Bird Report are of a BLACK TERN at the Frink Centre and CASPIAN TERNS at Sandbanks, and are by Jeremy Patenaude and Heather Fraser-Kirby respectively. Terry Sprague Prince Edward County [EMAIL PROTECTED] 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 instructions to join or leave ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdssetup.php ONTBIRDS Guidelines may be viewed at http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdsguide.php
[Ontbirds]Quinte Area Bird Report for week ending June 05, 2008
WEEKLY BIRD REPORT FROM PRINCE EDWARD COUNTY AND THE QUINTE AREA FOR THE WEEK ENDING Thursday, June 05, 2008 With the spring bird migration winding down, and spring bird banding activities concluded at Prince Edward Point last week, the Quinte Area Bird Report will gradually ease into a more relaxed mode as local birds continue with nesting activities. At Sandbanks Provincial Park, there are at least two MOURNING WARBLERS and a NASHVILLE WARBLER on territory in the pine plantations, along with a WHITE-THROATED SPARROW and another of the latter in the Cedars Campground of the park. A pair of RED-HEADED WOODPECKERS is still nesting in the Dunes Beach Area parking lot. Also found in the pine plantation in the park's West Lake Sector are at least two pairs of RED-BELLIED WOODPECKERS and GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS. BLACKPOLL WARBLERS are still being heard in the park, and one was singing at Prince Edward Point on Monday morning. After daily choruses of song from spring migrants in mid-May, the trails down there are strangely quiet now. Only YELLOW WARBLERS, a BALTIMORE ORIOLE or two (including one that sings like a Carolina wren), a persistent EASTERN WOOD-PEWEE and a distant BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO were the only sounds picked up along the trails in the Point Traverse Woods on Monday. The WHITE-WINGED DOVE was still present there as of June 1st. On Sunday, AMERICAN REDSTARTS were in the area of the harbour, and 10 BALTIMORE ORIOLES, an ORCHARD ORIOLE and CEDAR WAXWINGS were also present. Several PINE WARBLERS were singing in the red pine plantation at the Sidney Conservation Area, south of Stirling Monday evening, a single YELLOW-RUMPLED WARBLER was present at Massassauga Point Conservation Area yesterday evening. NORTHERN WATERTHRUSHES have been heard singing at Lake on the Mountain, and three were singing along the Millennium Trail west of Palmer-Burris Road several days ago. COMMON NIGHTHAWKS were seen at several locations, including 4 over Lake on the Mountain on the evening of May 31st, one along Sprague Road June 2nd, and another in the George's Road area. WHIP-POOR-WILLS have been calling every evening along County Road 13 at South Bay. If our own yard is any indication, it is starting out to be a great year for nesting. Both GRAY CATBIRDS and BROWN THRASHERS, a pair of WARBLING VIREOS and CHIPPING SPARROWS are all nesting on our lot. GRAY CATBIRDS are also nesting in a South Bay backyard. Two reports of EASTERN BLUEBIRDS nesting came from the Roslin and Tweed areas, both locations having suffered bouts with blow flies, but most succeeding with the second attempt. Both INDIGO BUNTINGS and ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAKS are still coming to feeders across the region. While driving on Big Island's Caughey Crossroad yesterday evening, I had to stop the car and wait as about a dozen WILD TURKEYS scurried one by one out of the grass and across the road ahead of me, with heads held low and their feet a blur. Less inclined to flee was a TURKEY VULTURE feeding on a carcass beside the road along North Big Island Road. It seems to be the season or, at least, the week, for birds to either dash or remain steadfast on the road. Along Big Island's causeway two evenings ago, an AMERICAN BITTERN did its best to stand erect with its beak pointed skyward, although there was virtually nothing behind it except a kilometre of pavement to conceal the bird. It finally flew when it saw that its efforts were all in vain, the second time I have had this happen along the same stretch of road. Two SANDHILL CRANES were seen at 7:00 p.m this evening in a field at Mountain View near Huff's Island Road. And that's it for this week from Prince Edward County and the Quinte area. Our thanks to Bob Barber, John & Janet Foster, Cliff Mclean, Joanne Dewey, Adam Penson, Marilyn Holland-Foster, Frank Artes & Carolyn Barnes, Donna Fano, John Blaney, Angela Mantle, Wayne McNulty, and Pamela Stagg for their contributions to this week's report. This report will be updated on Thursday, June 12th, but sightings can be e-mailed any time before the Wednesday night deadline. Featured photo on the Main Birding Page of the NatureStuff website of Birdathoners Terry Sprague, Mike Runtz and Brian Joyce is by Pamela Stagg of Lake on the Mountain. Photos in the online version of the Quinte Area Bird Report include a ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK by Shirley Laundry of Belleville, and an EASTERN BLUEBIRD'S nest by Cliff Mclean of Roslin. Terry Sprague Prince Edward County [EMAIL PROTECTED] 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 instructions to join or leave ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdssetup.php ONTBIRDS Guidelines may be viewed at http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdsguide.php
[Ontbirds]Quinte Area Bird Report for week ending May 29, 2008
area. Our thanks to David Okines of the Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory, Ron Weir, Donna Fano, David Bree, Heather Heron, Fiona King, Wayne McNulty, Kathy & Bob Willis, Michael Jaques and John Blaney for their contributions to this week's report. This report will be updated on Thursday, June 5th, but sightings can be e-mailed anytime before the Wednesday night deadline. Photo by Bob Willis on the Main Birding Page of the NatureStuff website features one of 12 BALTIMORE ORIOLES that are coming to feeders at their house near Picton. Photographer Dave Bell of Belleville once again features a YELLOW WARBLER and a BALTIMORE ORIOLE in the online edition of the Quinte Area Bird Report. Terry Sprague Prince Edward County [EMAIL PROTECTED] 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 instructions to join or leave ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdssetup.php ONTBIRDS Guidelines may be viewed at http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdsguide.php
[Ontbirds]Quinte Area Bird Report for week ending May 22, 2008
hers were noted along Ridge Road, and one was calling enthusiastically Wednesday night at Stillwater Forest along Black River. And that's it for this week from Prince Edward County and the Quinte area. Our thanks to David Okines of the Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory, Silvia Botnick, John and Janet Foster, Brian Durell, Pamela Stagg, Roger Snape, Kathleen Rankine, Nancy Smitts, Don Legate, Joanne Dewey, and John Blaney for their contributions to this week's report. This report will be updated on Thursday, May 29th, but sightings can be e-mailed to me any time before the Wednesday night deadline. Photo on the Main Birding Page of the Nature Stuff website of a lingering LONG-TAILED DUCK at Point Traverse is by Dave Bell of Belleville. Photos in the online version of the Quinte Area Bird Report of a BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER and an AMERICAN REDSTART are by Steven Draper of Bethel Road. Terry Sprague Prince Edward County [EMAIL PROTECTED] 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 instructions to join or leave ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdssetup.php ONTBIRDS Guidelines may be viewed at http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdsguide.php
[Ontbirds]Quinte Area Bird Report for week ending May 15, 2008
ng greats Michael Runtz and PEPtBO president Brian Joyce for what will truly be a straight 24-hour experience. We get under way at midnight. If I survive, this report will be updated on Thursday, May 22nd, but sightings can be e-mailed any time before the Wednesday night deadline. Belleville resident Dave Bell contributes all of our photos this week, including a ghostly photo of a TURKEY VULTURE in the setting sun on the Main Birding Page of the NatureStuff website. His photos of a BALTIMORE ORIOLE and a YELLOW WARBLER, taken on Saturday, appear in the online version of the Quinte Area Bird Report. Terry Sprague Prince Edward County [EMAIL PROTECTED] 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 instructions to join or leave ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdssetup.php ONTBIRDS Guidelines may be viewed at http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdsguide.php
[Ontbirds]Quinte Area Bird Report for week ending May 08, 2008
e still singing from the swamp and the first BALTIMORE ORIOLES arrived on the 3rd and 80 were seen on the 7th with most of them flying past the window in the evening. The PURPLE FINCH saga continued through the early part of the week with 120 being present on the 3rd. Up to 6 PINE SISKINS have been seen in a day and a female EVENING GROSBEAK was present on the 3rd and 4th. Elsewhere in the county, an early EASTERN KINGBIRD showed up at Kelly Road near King's Road on April 27th and another was on Ridge Road in the Picton area on May 5th. Five AMERICAN PIPITS were seen at Waupoos on the 3rd. A chance stop by two parties of observers along Highway 33 between Bloomfield and Wellington on May 6th resulted in some nice additions to the day's checklist when a relatively small flooded corner of an agricultural field produced a dozen yellowlegs with LESSER being identified for sure, along with 8 CASPIAN TERNS, and joining the crowd was a WILSON'S PHALAROPE spinning like a top as it searched for insects. A check of the area the following day produced only a single CASPIAN TERN and two LESSER YELLOWLEGS. However, more dependable results can be expected at one reliable site along Wesley Acres Road where a flooded field there has not been pumped out yet as it has been in past years. Present there on Tuesday were 8 GREEN-WINGED TEAL and a pair of NORTHERN SHOVELERS. At Sandbanks Provincial Park, the warbler migration there is going full tilt and several species were noted during the week including BLACKBURNIAN, MAGNOLIA, CHESTNUT-SIDED, NORTHERN WATERTHRUSHES and NORTHERN PARULAS. In the panne area on the north side of the dunes a SOLITARY SANDPIPER was found on Saturday, and other newcomers to the scene included the season's first GREAT CRESTED FLYCATCHER and a SAVANNAH SPARROW. Six LESSER YELLOWLEGS and 3 LEAST SANDPIPERS were at Jackson's Falls Creek, just above the falls east of Milford on the 6th, and a GREEN HERON was foraging in the Napanee River at the base of the falls in that town last evening. And as this summary was being finalized, a report came in of a WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE in with a large gaggle of pasturing CANADA GEESE in a corn field at Mountain View this evening. Most backyards are alive with songs these days and among them, of course, are the monotonous drawls of WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS. Twenty were in one backyard east of Milford today. Both ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAKS and RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRDS are visiting many feeders in the county and RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES are still coming to a few feeders in the area. A Glenora Road feeder has 35 PURPLE FINCHES there, in addition to 10 ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAKS and a plethora of woodpeckers involving 5 HAIRYS, 6 DOWNIES and 2 RED-BELLIED WOODPECKERS. Remember only six weeks ago there was still snow on the ground and ice in the smaller lakes? And that's it for this week from Prince Edward County and the Quinte area. Our thanks to David Okines of the Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory, Rosemary Smith, Fiona King, John Blaney, Marilyn Holland-Foster, Sophia Huyer, Karen Stenhouse, Nancy Smitts, Pamela Martin, Dirk de Boer, Doris Lane, Don Chisholm, Heatherjoy Fraser Kirby, Mia Lane, John Charlton, Cindi Stapleton, Henry Pasila, Ted Cullin, Sidney Smith, Wayne McNulty, Kathleen Rankine, Pamela Stagg, Nancy Fox, Brian Durell, David Bree, Joanne Dewey, Silvia Botnick, Heather Heron and Donn Legate for their contributions to this week's report. This report will be updated on Thursday, May 15th, but sightings can be e-mailed any time before the new Wednesday night deadline. Feature photo on the Main Birding Page of the NatureStuff website is by Sidney Smith and shows a male NORTHERN CARDINAL fighting with its image in a car mirror. Photos of a YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER and a SOLITARY SANDPIPER in the online edition of the Quinte Area Bird Report are by Sidney Smith and David Bree respectively. Terry Sprague Prince Edward County [EMAIL PROTECTED] 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 instructions to join or leave ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdssetup.php ONTBIRDS Guidelines may be viewed at http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdsguide.php
[Ontbirds]Quinte Area Bird Report for week ending May 01, 2008
previous afternoon. A report of a WHITE PELICAN near 12 O'clock Point came in from two separate observers this week, first seen on April 30th, but it didn't appear to be present when I was there that evening. Birders in that area should keep their eyes open for this bird, since one was in the Belleville area for nearly two months last summer. And a sighting that is currently awaiting further details is a pair of crossbills of undetermined identity coming to a feeder along Highway 33, near Glenora. According to the observer, they have been at the feeders for two weeks. And that's it for this week from Prince Edward County and the Quinte area. Our thanks to David Okines from the Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory, Henri Garand, Fred Helleiner, Chesia Livingston, Russ Williams, Cheryl Anderson, S.W. (Tex) Ridder, Fred Chandler, Joanne Dewey, Pamela Stagg, Silvia Botnick, Wendy Fraser, Nancy Fox and Paul Mackenzie for their contributions to this week's report. This report will be updated on Thursday, May 8th, but sightings can be e-mailed anytime before the new Wednesday night deadline. We seem to ignore AMERICAN ROBINS at this time of the year since they are so common, but our featured photos this week on both the Birding Page of the NatureStuff website and the two photos in the online edition of the Quinte Area Bird Report are all by Belleville photographer Dave Bell, and show robins caught in the act of being themselves. Terry Sprague Prince Edward County [EMAIL PROTECTED] 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 instructions to join or leave ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdssetup.php ONTBIRDS Guidelines may be viewed at http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdsguide.php
[Ontbirds]Quinte Area Bird Report
n the 22nd, and early WOOD PEWEE was at Prince Edward Point on the 19th. Even earlier was a reported NORTHERN PARULA north of Trenton. A pair of SANDHILL CRANES has been cruising the Prince Edward County area for the past two weeks, and were last seen on Miller Road on April 18th. A few of the TRUMPETER SWANS from the 2006 release at Big Island and Huff's Island, appear to have settled in and we are waiting to see what they do next. Two were in the Cherry Valley area, one of them #052 whose exploits across the country and beyond have been well documented, from New York to Connecticut and back to Prince Edward County. Another individual, #952, also a traveller, was not so lucky. It was seen thrashing about on the ground near Cherry Valley and is believed to be suffering from avian botulism. It is currently being care for at the Sandy Pines Wildlife Centre at Napanee. Waterfowl and other birds at the Wesley Acres flooded agricultural fields during the past week have included up to 25 GREEN-WINGED TEALS, 5 BLUE-WINGED TEALS, 25 CASPIAN TERNS, 5 GREATER YELLOWLEGS and 2 LESSER YELLOWLEGS. South Bay has had CANVASBACKS and hundreds of scaups. RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS and LONG-TAILED DUCKS have been noted at Little Bluff Conservation Area. Plans are in place for Birding Week in Prince Edward County, May 10th to 18th with much of the action taking place at Prince Edward Point with daily morning bird walks and weekend banding demonstrations. A colour brochure focusing on the top birding areas of the county and containing a schedule of events for Birding Week is now available at many Quinte area outlets. The stars of the brochure, an AMERICAN GOLDFINCH and a WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW by Belleville photographer Dave Bell, are this week's featured photos in the online edition of the Quinte Area Bird Report. Photo of a BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE drinking from a water tap on the Main Birding Page of the NatureStuff website is by Shirley Laundry of Belleville. Details of the Birding Week are on both the Prince Edward Point website www.peptbo.ca and on the NatureStuff website www.naturestuff./net (under EVENTS). And that's it for this week from Prince Edward County and the Quinte area. Our thanks to David Okines of the Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory, Pamela Stagg, Doris Lane, Brian & Gloria Durell, David Bree, Owen Weir, Chesia Livingston, Fiona King, Kathleen Rankine, Heather Heron, Paul Guernsey, Donna Fano, Norma Broadbear, Silvia Botnick and Fred Chandler for their contributions to this week's report. This report will be updated on Thursday May 1st, but sightings can be e-mailed anytime before the new deadline of Wednesday night at 9:00 p.m. Terry Sprague Prince Edward County [EMAIL PROTECTED] 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 instructions to join or leave ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdssetup.php ONTBIRDS Guidelines may be viewed at http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdsguide.php
[Ontbirds]Quinte Area Bird Report for week ending April 17th
Home, and the local municipal government offices at Shire Hall. CASPIAN TERNS (2) were seen in Muscote Bay on the 14th, and four were at the mouth of the Outlet River at Sandbanks last Sunday. A LITTLE GULL joined a flock of 50 BONAPARTE'S GULLS in an agricultural field near Sandbanks on the 13th. The Kaiser Crossroad flooded cornfields continue to offer some good opportunities and on the 12th there were AMERICAN BLACK DUCKS, NORTHERN PINTAILS, CANADA GEESE and a pair of SHOVELERS. Over 250 BONAPARTE'S GULLS were present there on the 16th. The flooded field along Wesley Acres Road, known locally as Bucknell's slough, and the adjacent marsh across the road, offered about a dozen species of waterfowl this week, among them both species of teal, NORTHERN PINTAILS, RING-NECKED DUCKS and AMERICAN WIGEON. Waterfowl come and go on Muscote Bay, dictated apparently by the whims of the day. Other interesting sightings include a persistent singing early morning flock of 30 RUSTY BLACKBIRDS along South Big Island Road, 45 WILD TURKEYS in a field near Sandbanks, an AMERICAN KESTREL in Picton and on Big Island, a BALD EAGLE over Trenton, and a pair of WOOD DUCKS in Cherry Valley. And that's it for this week from Prince Edward County and the Quinte area. Our thanks to David Okines, Heather Heron, Pamela Stagg, Chesia Livingston, David Bree, Henry Pasila, Bill Hogg, Doris Lane, Cheryl Anderson, Cathie Stewart, Frank Artes & Carolyn Barnes, John & Janet Foster, Silvia Botnick, Kathleen Rankine, Marilyn Holland-Foster, Fiona King, Henri Garand, Owen Weir, and Fred Chandler for their contributions to this week's report. This report will be updated on Thursday, April 24th, but sightings can be e-mailed any time before the 9:00 p.m. Wednesday night deadline (please note the new deadline). Featured photos in the online edition of the Quinte Area Bird Report are of a MUTE SWAN doing a ballet, by Susan Shipman of Wellington, and a BROWN CREEPER by Elena Petrcich of Ottawa. Photo of "fishing cormorants" in China on the Main Birding Page of the NatureStuff website is courtesy of Ingrid Harrington of Bloomfield. Terry Sprague Prince Edward County [EMAIL PROTECTED] 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 instructions to join or leave ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdssetup.php ONTBIRDS Guidelines may be viewed at http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdsguide.php
[Ontbirds]Quinte Area Bird Report for week ending April 10, 2008
and in the online edition of the Quinte Area Bird Report are all by John & Janet Foster of the Tweed area. Terry Sprague Prince Edward County [EMAIL PROTECTED] 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 instructions to join or leave ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdssetup.php ONTBIRDS Guidelines may be viewed at http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdsguide.php
[Ontbirds]Quinte Area Bird Report for week ending April 03, 2008
yard. Spring is on its way! And it was the sighting of the year's first MOURNING CLOAK BUTTERFLY on the 28th in Bloomfield that told us so. And that's it for this week from Prince Edward County and the Quinte Area.Our thanks to Paul Thompson, Ted Cullin, Rosemary Smith, Michael Tumpane, Donn Legate, John Charlton, Cathie Stewart, Pamela Stagg, Vince & Kerry Politi, Owen Weir, Heather Heron, Yvette Bree, Brock Burr, Judy & Dave Bell, Kathy Felkar, Janet Foster, Chesia Livingston, Sophia Huyer, Nancy Smits, Frank Artes & Carolyn Barnes, Joanne Dewey, Bill Hogg, Beth McPerson and Henri Garand for their contributions to this week's report. This report will be updated on Thursday, April 10th, but sightings can be e-mailed any time before the 6:00 p.m. deadline. Featured photos in the online edition of the Quinte Area Bird Report include WILD TURKEYS by Don Carr of Belleville and TUNDRA SWANS by Susan Shipman of Wellington. Photo of two amorous MOURNING DOVES on the Main Birding Page of the NatureStuff website is by Sydney Smith of Wellington. Terry Sprague Prince Edward County [EMAIL PROTECTED] 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 instructions to join or leave ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdssetup.php ONTBIRDS Guidelines may be viewed at http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdsguide.php
[Ontbirds]Quinte Area Bird Report for week ending March 27, 2008
WEEKLY BIRD REPORT FROM PRINCE EDWARD COUNTY AND THE QUINTE AREA FOR THE WEEK ENDING Thursday, March 27, 2008 It was minus 13 degrees at 4:30 a.m. on March 25th when I stepped outside and heard my first "spring" WILSON'S SNIPE winnowing in the dark sky above me. Despite the winter hanging on, birds continue to make their spring debut. A TREE SWALLOW along Glenora Road yesterday is in addition to the very early one on the 19th that showed up along County Road 1. SONG SPARROWS are increasing in numbers, and both COMMON GRACKLES and RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS are everywhere right now in growing numbers. An optimistic well formed skein of over 90 CANADA GEESE was seen heading due north at Sandbanks on March 25th, likely the same flock that passed over 23 Sprague Road a few minutes later, and no doubt the same flock that was seen during the same time period over Glenora Road. TURKEY VULTURES in small numbers have been seen across the region this past week, and several have been noted again roosting in trees in downtown Picton. A WINTER WREN was at 2800 County Road 1 today, and the second WILSON'S SNIPE of the spring season showed up there this morning. Meanwhile signs of winter still linger on with numerous sightings of BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS, including 40 today stripping a highbush cranberry bare of fruit near Trenton, 30 in the Stirling area on the 21st. COMMON REDPOLLS have disappeared from many feeders, but are still present in large numbers at others. There are 60 at feeders at Allisonville, 30 at two feeding locations along Glenora Road and along County Road 1, 22 at a Trenton feeder, 20 at a feeder at the west end of Big Island and along George's Road, and lesser numbers at other feeders in the area. At least 10 PINE SISKINS continue to visit a feeder along Glenora Road, and PINE GROSBEAKS during the week were seen in Napanee and Trenton. CEDAR WAXWINGS this week were found along George's Road (10), Waupoos (30), Trenton (20). One Trenton area resident, while cleaning out his nest boxes, found one box containing five FLYING SQUIRRELS, and another containing a black morph GREY SQUIRREL with 3 one-week old babies (squirrelettes?). CANADA GEESE and TUNDRA SWANS are poised and ready at the flooded corn fields along Kaiser Road. There were 200 of the former and 25 of the latter there today, but nary a drop of water yet in which to dabble. This popular "wetland" harbours thousands of geese and ducks when conditions are at their peak. CANADA GEESE, MUTE SWANS and COMMON GOLDENEYE were present this week at the east end of Adolphus Reach. CANADA GEESE continue to search in vain for open water with at least 20 landing on the still solid ice last weekend on Muscote Bay. A NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD was north of Stirling on Wellman's Road on Friday. BALD EAGLES turned up in several locations during the week including the Bay of Quinte near the Quinte Skyway Bridge, and a number of other single sightings at Prince Edward Point, South Bay, Adolphus Reach and one in the Belleville area. The dark morph ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK is still present at the west end of Big Island where it has been for most of the winter, and 2 RED-TAILED HAWKS were seen in the Jackson's Falls area this week. An AMERICAN KESTREL was surveying traffic along Highway 62 early this morning by Victoria Road. NORTHERN HARRIERS are becoming increasingly common over meadows and wetlands as the spring, albeit late, continues to arrive in spurts as though unsure of its welcome. Several PILEATED WOODPECKERS were reported during the week, with at least two expressing considerable exuberance over the arrival of spring by eviscerating a number of trees in the area. A hydro pole near Glenora was worked on by one individual, likely misinterpreting the hum of the lines for burrowing insects, and a large white pine across from Whattam's Funeral Home in Picton was girdled by at least 20 holes. RED-BELLIED WOODPECKERS were reported at feeders along Glenora Road, Adolphustown, and along County Road 1 in the county. Our roving reporter at the H.R. Frink Centre says feeder birds there are preparing for this Sunday's MapleFest with at least a half dozen BLUE JAYS present, along with 2 pairs of NORTHERN CARDINALS, BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEES, DARK-EYED JUNCOS, AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS and both RED and WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCHES. Three TURKEY VULTURE sightings have been made there over the last several days. A pair of EASTERN BLUEBIRDS was seen on Sunday at the corner of Blessington Road and Lazier Road, and a NORTHERN SHRIKE is a regular along Bronk Road, Blessington Road and Lazier Road. And at least a few SNOW BUNTINGS are still around in that area as they prepare for the possible arrival of even more snow as spring continues to dawdle. And that's it for this week from Prince Edward County and the Quinte area. Our thanks to Jess Chambers, Doris Lane, Cheryl Anderson, Myrna Wood, Heatherjoy Fraser-Kirby, Pamela Stagg, Bria
[Ontbirds]Quinte Area Bird Report for week ending March 20th
WEEKLY BIRD REPORT FROM PRINCE EDWARD COUNTY AND THE QUINTE AREA FOR THE WEEK ENDING Thursday, March 20, 2008 Except for warmer temperatures - and that's about to change - there's not a whole to suggest that today is the first day of Spring. Birds, however, are celebrating its arrival with wild abandon, as AMERICAN ROBINS (60 at Ridge Road), RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS and COMMON GRACKLES continue to increase in numbers. The first COMMON GRACKLE turned up in Belleville on the 14th. The first KILLDEER of the season passed noisily over No Frills in Picton on March 14th, and another was spotted near Prince Edward Point the following day, with reports of these so-called harbingers flooding in Tuesday and Wednesday. SONG SPARROWS, likely spring migrants rather than wintering individuals, have also shown up across the region, and a very early, overly optimistic TREE SWALLOW passed over 2800 County Road 1 on March 19th. GREAT BLUE HERONS have also shown up, and four were puzzling over the hardness of the water along the shore of the Bay of Quinte off George's Road, east of Northport on Wednesday. Along that same road, 20 GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS turned up together, foraging in a roadside bush, presumably migrants, but a week early for this species to be normally arriving in such numbers. Single TURKEY VULTURES were seen during the week over Picton and at Lake on the Mountain, and 10 were seen late this afternoon along a stretch of County Road 1 known locally as Sandy Hook Road, near Picton. AMERICAN CROWS are also increasing and 40 in west Trenton drew the attention of a resident there. A flock of over 70 RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS at 23 Sprague Road today contained one female bird. Birders are eagerly awaiting favourite nooks and crannies in the county to open to improve viewing conditions for waterfowl. Kaiser Crossroad was examined today by a resident down that way, but it will be a few days yet before any actions begins, although 100 hopeful CANADA GEESE were standing at the ready. Meanwhile at feeders, COMMON REDPOLLS are hanging in there and 25 are coming to a South Bay feeder, and 40 to a feeder in the Melville area of Consecon Lake, and an incredible 75 at a feeder in Bloomfield. PILEATED WOODPECKERS were seen visiting feeders in both the Stanley Park area of Trenton and along County Road 1 in Prince Edward County. Elsewhere, most feeder regulars are maintaining their winter numbers despite the snow gradually disappearing, although AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS have decreased in population at many feeding stations in the area. BARRED OWLS haven't quite given up their role as the star attraction this winter. One was spotted in a backyard tree in downtown Belleville on March 13th, and another was quite obvious as it perched in a large tree yesterday on the west side of Highway 49, about two kilometres south of Fish Lake Road. A grey morph EASTERN SCREECH OWL was photographed on Saturday, peering out of a wood duck nesting box along Kelly Road in the East Lake area. In the Consecon area, the attention of one resident there was drawn to a ruckus in the backyard where a RED-TAILED HAWK had a COMMON CROW pinned to the ground. Meanwhile, the crow's mate was going crazy above where the pair is believed to have a nest. The hawk eventually released its hold with the crow's mate in hot pursuit of the hawk. The downed injured crow was able to get airborne and ignominiously flew off in a different direction. And that's it for this week from Prince Edward County and the Quinte area. Our thanks to Gerry Fraiberg, Eve Ticknor, Bill Hill, Heather Heron, Patrick Davies, Pamela Stagg, Judy Kent, Rosemary Kent, John Charlton, Nancy Fox, Glenn Helm, Mike Burge & Kathy Felkar, Joanne Dewey, Donn Legate, Paul Kenny, Kathleen Rankine, Frank Artes & Carolyn Barnes, Bill Leet and Nancy Smitts for their contributions to this week's report. This report will be updated on Thursday, March 27th, but sightings can be e-mailed any time before the 6:00 p.m Thursday deadline. Featured photos in the online edition of the Quinte Area Bird Report include Two CANADA GEESE at Barcovan, one of which putting on a peculiar performance, taken by Susan Shipman and an EASTERN SCREECH OWL peering out of a nest box, photographed by Paul Kenny. Photo on the Main Birding Page of the NatureStuff website is of a single CANADA GOOSE performing for photographer Susan Shipman of Wellington. Terry Sprague Prince Edward County [EMAIL PROTECTED] 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 instructions to join or leave ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdssetup.php ONTBIRDS Guidelines may be viewed at http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdsguide.php
[Ontbirds]Quinte Area Bird Report for week ending March 13, 2008
AUP and WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS have been noted. Two MUTE SWANS checked out the frozen wetlands on Friday at Adolphustown Park. Until the water softens up a bit more, life ain't easy for waterfowl these days. An interesting sighting from the Glendon Green boat launch in East Lake at the Outlet River yesterday involved two TRUMPETER SWANS #s 052 and #952 with one taking off way out over East Lake, and then returning to land, all the time calling back and forth with the one left on the river. When it landed again a MUTE SWAN immediately charged after it across the water. The TRUMPETER SWAN completely ignored the charge and the MUTE SWAN just slowed, stopped, and then swam away. "I would have at least flinched!" said the observer. And that's it for this week from Prince Edward County and the Quinte Area. Our thanks to Pamela Stagg, Janet Mooney, Joanne Dewey, Cheryl Anderson, Ken & Shirley Joyce, Henri Garand, Donn Legate, Bill Leet, Carol Ward, Frank Artes & Carolyn Barnes, Silvia Botnick, Jess Chambers, Marilyn Holland-Foster, Bill Hogg, John Charlton, John & Janet Foster and David Bree for their contributions to this week's report. This report will be updated on Thursday, March 20th, but sightings can be e-mailed any time before the 6:00 p.m. Thursday deadline. Featured photos in the online edition of the Quinte Area Bird Report include a COOPER'S HAWK by Donna Fano and an AMERICAN CROW by Dave Bell, both of Belleville. Photo on the Main Birding Page of the NatureStuff website of a spring arrival of AMERICAN ROBINS in South Glenns Falls, NY is by Sandra Morgan. Terry Sprague Prince Edward County [EMAIL PROTECTED] 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 instructions to join or leave ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdssetup.php ONTBIRDS Guidelines may be viewed at http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdsguide.php
[Ontbirds]Quinte Area Bird Report for week ending March 06, 2008
that have turned up dead during the winter at one feeder. The resident is curious as to what might have caused the deaths of these birds which otherwise looked perfectly healthy. He is wondering if anyone else has noticed anything unusual about the redpoll population this winter, other than the fact they seem to be given to landing on your arms and head as feeders are being filled! And that's it for this week from Prince Edward County and the Quinte area. Our thanks to David Bree, Fred Chandler, Bon Betteley, John Charlton, Serge de Sousa, John Blaney, Pamela Stagg, Pamela Martin, Donna Fano, Ken & Shirley Joyce, Wayne McNulty, Kathleen Rankine, Janet Mooney, Fiona King, Jenny Goodall, Judy Kent, Margaret Kirk, Lyle Anderson and Marilyn Holland-Foster for their contributions to this week's report. This report will be updated on Thursday, March 13th, but sightings can be e-mailed any time before the 6:00 p.m. Thursday deadline. Featured photos in the online edition of the Quinte Area Bird Report this week include a CEDAR WAXWING and HORNED LARK. Photo on the Main Birding Page of the NatureStuiff website could be titled "Wishful Thinking" as it shows a SNOWY OWL which didn't appear in the county this winter that has been edited into a photo taken at Consecon's Stinson Block. All photos were taken by Susan Shipman of Wellington. Terry Sprague Prince Edward County [EMAIL PROTECTED] 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 instructions to join or leave ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdssetup.php ONTBIRDS Guidelines may be viewed at http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdsguide.php
[Ontbirds]Quinte Area Bird Report for week ending February 28, 2008
area had more routine guests, among them 100 COMMON REDPOLLS along County Road 1 northwest of Bloomfield, and another 100 at a feeder at Cape Vesey, and 60 at a feeder on Tripp Road. One feeder at Horse Point in the Massassauga area boasts 12 WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCHES, 10 DARK-EYED JUNCOS and 2 COMMON CROWS. No less impressive is the County Road 1 feeder that has 7 HAIRY WOODPECKERS and 5 DOWNY WOODPECKERS. Also present here, 30 HOUSE SPARROWS - something of a rarity at most feeders these days in the county. Few reports of waterfowl as many of the prime focal points are still pretty hard. In the open waters of Prince Edward Bay, there are thousands of ducks congregating according to one observer, but the best place to go this weekend is probably Log Cabin Point in East Lake at the headwaters of the Outlet River. Access is via County Road 18, exactly 1.2 km east of the 4-way stop (at the Sandbanks entrance). Three species of swans are present including upwards of 60 MUTE SWANS, and more than a dozen TUNDRA SWANS, and at least four tagged TRUMPETER SWANS, all of the latter initially released at Big Island and Huff's Island in June of 2006. The make-up of species there varies from day to day, but also present this week were CANADA GEESE, GREATER SCAUP, and COMMON GOLDENEYE. And if the presence of AMERICAN ROBINS means anything, there were numerous little gatherings of them across the county involving up to a couple dozen in each case. But winter is still here, evidenced by a flock of 200 SNOW BUNTINGS in a weedy field east of Wellers Bay. And feeders attract more than just birds. One address near Bloomfield had a FISHER dart by their property, perhaps attracted to the area by the activity, and hoof prints at a Low Street residence on the east side of Picton indicated that several WHITE-TAILED DEER had a midnight snack at the bird feeders there, followed by a water chaser from the heated bird bath! And that's it for this week from Prince Edward County and the Quinte area. Our thanks to Joanne Dewey, David Bree, Albert Boisvert, Bruce Parker, Sergio de Sousa, Gerry Fraiberg, Donna Fano, John Charlton, Donna Spencer, Nina Throop, Paul Taylor, Pamela Stagg, Ted Cullin, Nancy Fox, Rosemary Smith, Doris Lane, Chesia Livingston, Frank Artes & Carolyn Barnes, Myrna Wood, Kathleen Rankine, Cheryl Anderson, John & Janet Foster, Bruce Ripley, Brock Burr, Fred Chandler, Paul Thompson, John Vierira and Doug McRae for their contributions. This report will be updated on Thursday, March 6th, but sightings can be e-mailed any time before the 6:00 p.m. Thursday deadline. Featured photos in the online edition of the Quinte Area Bird Report include the amazing PILEATED WOODPECKER excavations at Tweed, and a BARRED OWL in flight near South Bay by John Vieira. Photo on the Main Birding Page of the NatureStuff website is by Donna Spencer of a NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL perched on a snow shovel in the Belleville area. Terry Sprague Prince Edward County [EMAIL PROTECTED] 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 instructions to join or leave ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdssetup.php ONTBIRDS Guidelines may be viewed at http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdsguide.php
[Ontbirds]Quinte Area Bird Report for week ending February 21, 2008
ere indiscernible. In the open waters of Prince Edward Bay and Lake Ontario at Prince Edward Point, prospects for waterfowl are somewhat better where COMMON GOLDENEYE, GREATER SCAUP, BUFFLEHEAD, COMMON MERGANSER, LONG-TAILED DUCK, BLACK SCOTER, WHITE-WINGED SCOTER and REDHEAD were all present on the 16th. Among the sprinkling of ducks in Consecon Creek within that village on the 17th were 2 MUTE SWANS, a pair of HOODED MERGANSERS and a male REDHEAD, as well as a HERRING GULL munching down a dead carp, according to one observer who checked out that area. At Barcovan in the Wellers Bay area, 2 NORTHERN PINTAILS were present on Thursday. And if you want to believe that spring is around the corner, A Napanee area resident found a flock of 30 AMERICAN ROBINS last Thursday. While warming the cockles of anyone's heart at this time of the year, it probably is as much a harbinger of spring as the PINE WARBLER that spent much of the winter at a feeder in Trenton this year. And that's it for this week from Prince Edward County and the Quinte area. Our thanks to Gloria Durell, Albert Boisvert, Doug McRae, Fiona King, Susan Shipman, Mike Burge & Kathy Felkar, Joanne Dewey, Stephanie Collins, John Hatfield, Owen Weir, Wendy Sharpe, David Bree, Nicole McKinnon, Hugh Sharpe, Bob Culp, John Charlton, Fred Helleiner, John & Janet Foster, Ted Cullin, Debbie Burns, Carolyn Barnes, Borys Holowacz, and Henri Garand for their contributions to this week's report. This report will be updated on Thursday, February 28th, but sightings can be e-mailed any time before the 6:00 p.m. Thursday deadline. Featured photos in the online edition of the Quinte Area Bird Report include a HAIRY WOODPECKER by Sydney Smith of Wellington and a NORTHERN CARDINAL by Laura Pierce of Waupoos. Photo on the Main Birding Page of the NatureStuff website is of a BARRED OWL at South Bay by Susan Shipman of Wellington. Terry Sprague Prince Edward County [EMAIL PROTECTED] 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 instructions to join or leave ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdssetup.php ONTBIRDS Guidelines may be viewed at http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdsguide.php
