WEEKLY BIRD REPORT FROM PRINCE EDWARD COUNTY AND THE QUINTE AREA FOR THE
WEEK ENDING Thursday, May 11, 2006
We'll start this week's report right off the bat with the summary from the
Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory, and then attempt to fill in any blank
spaces remaining with reports from other areas within the Quinte region.
Numerous observers visited Prince Edward Point during the week. One of the
treats at Prince Edward Point is the opportunity to observe migrants at
close range while they are still in an exhausted state as was the case with
two birders on May 10th who observed a pair of SCARLET TANAGERS at eye level
from a distance of seven feet. "And no camera," lamented the observers. The
same birders also checked off no fewer than 5 GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLERS.
Warbler migration is now well under way and 22 species have been seen at
Prince Edward Point this week. The COMMON LOON migration seems to be coming
to a stop as only 6 have been seen all week. The GREEN HERON was seen again
on the 5th at the end of the harbour and there are now at least 15 young
goslings feeding on the grass around the harbour. Six GADWALL put in an
appearance on the 8th, and 9 GREATER SCAUP flew past on the 6th. Up to 2000
LONG-TAILED DUCKS can still be seen offshore although on most days only
300-500 are visible.
A COOPER'S HAWK was seen on the 10th, 2 BROAD-WINGED HAWKS and an AMERICAN
KESTREL were seen on the 5th. SPOTTED SANDPIPERS were seen along the edge
of the harbour on the 5th and today. Hummingbirds are becoming more common
with at least 6 being seen on the 10th. Two YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKERS were
seen on the 6th. LEAST FLYCATCHERS are appearing in good numbers with 15 and
12 seen on the 8th and 9th respectively, the first GREAT CRESTED FLYCATCHER
was found on the 5th, and today at least 3 birds were present. Single
EASTERN KINGBIRDS were seen on the 9th and 10th. The resident WARBLING
VIREOS are to be found in the bushes at the end of the harbour and a
PHILADELPHIA VIREO was trapped on the 9th, with today finding the first
RED-EYED VIREO of the year. Two WINTER WRENS found on the 7th may be the
last ones seen. An EASTERN BLUEBIRD spent the evening of the 9th feeding
around the Observatory. The first VEERY of the season was found on the
9th and the first SWAINSON'S THRUSH was seen on the 10th. WOOD THRUSHES are
being seen daily with a peak of 5 seen on the 8th and HERMIT THRUSHES are
coming to the end of their season. The first GRAY CATBIRD was banded on the
5th, and 10 were present on the 8th. A NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD was present all
day on the 8th and two AMERICAN PIPITS were on the beach on the 9th.
BLUE-WINGED WARBLERS were present on the 8th - 11th with three banded
during that period. TENNESSEE and ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS were trapped on
the 10th with another ORANGE-CROWNED trapped today. NORTHERN PARULAS were
seen on the 7th and 8th. YELLOW WARBLERS are increasing and up to 80 have
been seen in a day. The first CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLERS appeared on the 5th as
did the first MAGNOLIA WARBLER, the second CAPE MAY WARBLER of the season
was found on the 9th. Three BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLERS were found on the
6th and that day had 140 YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS; today there were at least
250 YELLOW-RUMPS present, as were the first BAY-BREASTED WARBLERS. COMMON
YELLOWTHROATS appeared on the 7th and today saw the first WILSON'S and
CANADA WARBLERS. SCARLET TANAGERS first appeared on the 6th and today at
least 8 were present. The first CLAY-COLORED SPARROW was found in a net on
the 9th and was singing in its usual spot the following day. The Gambel's
race of WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW was seen on the 8th and INDIGO BUNTINGS also
put in an appearance on the 8th. ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAKS are increasing and
45 were seen today. Also in good numbers today were BALTIMORE ORIOLES with
at least 140 being present along with four ORCHARD ORIOLES. Occasional
BOBOLINKS are being seen and two EVENING GROSBEAKS were trapped on the 9th.
Today a nice second year male WOODED WARBLER was also banded.
COMMON RAVENS continue to be seen throughout the county with the resident 2
at Prince Edward Point on the 9th, and a pair in the Stinson Block area west
of Consecon, believed to be nesting in a barn. More on this later, if it is
confirmed. Also in that area, a WHIP-POOR-WILL was heard singing Tuesday
evening, something of a treat in Prince Edward County where the species
tends to be heard only during migration. OSPREYS are nesting on an
artificial platform in Weller's Bay near the base of the Bald Head
Peninsula. Another OSPREY can be seen quite regularly fishing over Muscote
Bay, not far from where there is a nesting platform.
In addition to CLAY-COLORED SPARROWS being present at Prince Edward Point,
individuals were heard singing during the week at Little Bluff Conservation
Area, and 4 were heard along Babylon Road, both sightings occurring on the
9th. While Prince Edward County pales in comparison to nearby Presqu'ile for
shorebirds, the Bucknell's Slough along Wesely Acres Road, just south of
Bloomfield, made a valiant attempt at giving some recognition to this now
popular location. One observer there on the 8th found a large flock of
SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPERS, a few SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS, GREATER YELLOWLEGS and
a BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER, likely the same individual that was mentioned in
last week's report. Two COMMON MOORHENS were found in the cattail marsh
directly across the road. Two LEAST SANDPIPERS and a GREATER YELLOWLEGS were
seen on Old Milford Road.
BALD EAGLES continue to make it in the weekly report, with one along
Northport Road on the 8th being the most recent sighting. SANDHILL CRANES
were heard calling last week in the Point Petre area by a turkey hunter, and
two were finally observed in a field there on Monday. Another SANDHILL CRANE
was seen the following day at the Stinson Block heading toward Presqu'ile
Park, and later in the day two came back and were headed toward Picton.
ORCHARD ORIOLES seem to be making great strides in becoming established in
Prince Edward County with numerous sightings around the county, and last
Thursday, one appeared in Adolphustown. A GREAT EGRET has been seen for
several days in the Stirling area.
With attention these days being focused more toward the migrant songbirds
that are arriving, regular clientel at bird feeding stations have have taken
a back seat. However, RED-BELLIED WOODPECKERS are still visiting the popular
feeder on Glenora Road, and a report of both an INDIGO BUNTING and a PINE
SISKIN came from a feeding station in the Carrying Place area.
The Prince Edward County Birding Festival begins Saturday and much of the
attention of course will be focused on Prince Edward Point. I will be
leading guided bird walks nearly every morning there, commencing at 8:00
a.m.. Join us if you can.
And that's it for this week from Prince Edward County and the Quinte area.
Our thanks to David Okines, Bruce Ripley, Paul Mackenzie, Lloyd Paul, Wynne
Thomas, Bill Hogg, Doug & Evelyn Sloane, Silvia Botnick, Cathie Stewart,
Monica Mills, Sandra Beardsley, Marilyn Holland-Foster, Henri Garand, Chesea
Livingston, Angela Mantle, John & Margaret Moore, and David Bree for their
contributions to this week's report. This report will be updated on
Thursday, May 18th. Bird sightings may be forwarded any time to
[EMAIL PROTECTED] before the Thursday 6:00 p.m. deadline. This report also
appears for a week on the NatureStuff website, under BIRDING, where this
week's photo of a BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER at Prince Edward Point is by
Russ Kitchen.
Terry Sprague
Prince Edward County
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
www.naturestuff.net
