This is the Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory Report for the week of April
27-May 03, courtesy of David Okines, bander in charge:
A HORNED GREBE was seen on the 3rd and an AMERICAN BITTERN was seen on the
30th. Several family parties of CANADA GEESE can now be seen around the
harbour. Up to 150 WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS can be seen offshore as can up to a
1000 LONG-TAILED DUCKS. BUFFLEHEAD numbers are decreasing but RED-BREASTED
MERGANSERS are still being seen in good numbers. SHARP-SHINNED and COOPERS
HAWKS are being seen occasionally. Gull numbers have dropped off but 1-4
CASPIAN TERNS are showing daily.
The first RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD on schedule on the 3rd and several
YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKERS are still showing in the Cedar woods and at Point
Traverse. On May 1st, the warblers and other spring migrants arrived and LEAST
FLYCATCHERS were seen on the 1st when 7 were present. One or two GREAT-CRESTED
FLYCATCHERS are now present daily and EASTERN KINGBIRDS arrived on the 2nd. May
1st also saw 15 BLUE-HEADED VIREOS and the first WARBLING VIREO. Four COMMON
RAVENS were seen together on the 30th. GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS have almost
finished migrating with just 1 or 2 being seen daily now, RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS
on the other hand are moving in good numbers with 75 seen on the first, 100 on
the 2nd and 175 on the 3rd. The first VEERY appeared on the 3rd, as did the
first WOOD THRUSHES and SWAINSONS THRUSH, with HERMIT THRUSHES numbering 40
that day. The first GRAY CATBIRDS arrived on the 3rd, 8 of them.
Twenty-two species of warblers were seen this week including 21 species on the
3rd. BLUE-WINGED WARBLERS were banded on the 1st and 3rd. Firsts for the year
on the 3rd were TENNESSEE, ORANGE-CROWNED, NORTHERN PARULA, CAPE MAY,
BLACKBURNIAN, AMERICAN REDSTART, COMMON YELLOWTHROAT and CANADA WARBLER.
YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS have been arriving in good numbers with 400, 200 and 800
recorded on the first three days of the month. On the 3rd, YELLOW WARBLERS
numbered 45, NASHVILLES numbered 30, western PALM WARBLERS numbered 35, BLACK
AND WHITES numbered 20 and MAGNOLIAS numbered 15.
An AMERICAN TREE SPARROW was seen on May 1st and was very nearly the latest
ever date for here. SWAMP SPARROWS numbered 25 on the 1st, WHITE-THROATED
SPARROWS have been seen in good numbers with 500 on the 1st, 200 on the 2nd and
350 on the 3rd. WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS arrived on the 1st and numbered 120 on
the 3rd which also saw a Gambell’s form being banded. ROSE BREASTED GROSBEAKS
arrived for their annual “chomping on the banders’ fingers competition” on the
1st and 12 were present on the 3rd. The first BOBOLINK was seen on the 3rd. A
flock of 35 RUSTY BLACKBIRDS were seen on the 3rd. The first BALTIMORE ORIOLE
was seen on the 1st and 15 were recorded on the 3rd.
Elsewhere around the Quinte area, BOBOLINKS arrived in Prince Edward County on
May 2nd, and the first CHIMNEY SWIFTS of the season were seen circling above
Picton yesterday. A NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD continues to be seen along South Big
Island Road, just west of Allison Road. A CLAY-COLORED SPARROW can be heard
occasionally singing near 23 Sprague Road at Big Island. A major influx of
spring migrants was noted on Thursday when up to 22 species of warblers were
seen in the county and a major arrival of ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAKS and BALTIMORE
ORIOLES and RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRDS. Now the hope that some of these may
stick around for the county’s Spring Birding Festival May 12-21.
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/
