WEEKLY BIRD REPORT FROM PRINCE EDWARD COUNTY AND THE QUINTE AREA for Sunday, October 10, 2004
Five GREAT EGRETS (October 7th) continue to hang out at 12 O'Clock Point near Carrying Place, as Indian Summer in Prince Edward County causes some migrant birds to place their southward migration plans on hold. Also at 12 O'Clock Point was a late COMMON TERN. And also enjoying some tardiness this past week were a TENNESSEE WARBLER and a WILSON'S WARBLER on October 5th, and a BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER the following day, all at Prince Edward Point. Otherwise, the fall migration continues on schedule. A total of 144 NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWLS were caught this past week at the Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory, bringing the total for the fall up to 302, with 75 being caught on the night of October 5th and 6th. Banding has been very busy, with hundreds of both GOLDEN-CROWNED and RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS in the area. One good species trapped was a WHITE-EYED VIREO on October 5th, only the second one ever caught by the Observatory. Six RED-NECKED GREBES were seen offshore on the 9th along with 5 AMERICAN WIGEON and one NORTHERN PINTAIL. The GREATER SCAUP flock is building up offshore with up to 900 being seen daily, and amongst them can be found small numbers of WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS and also a few SURF and BLACK SCOTERS. The first LONG-TAILED DUCK of the season was seen today. Also at Prince Edward Point, an adult female PEREGRINE FALCON was seen by the Observatory banders on the morning of the 9th, and a second year hatch year female was picked up dead on the beach and will be sent off for testing for contaminants and/or botulism and West Nile Virus. A large arrival of birds on the 5th resulted in 511 birds being caught. Species being caught, or seen that day, included 10 YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKERS, 40 BLUE-HEADED VIREOS, 500 GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS, 400 RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS, 45 HERMIT THRUSHES, 10 NASHVILLE WARBLERS, 30 YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS, 2 SCARLET TANAGERS, and the late TENNESSEE and WILSON'S WARBLERS, mentioned earlier in this report. . Also trapped that day was the second CAPE MAY WARBLER of the fall. The first EASTERN BLUEBIRD of the fall season was seen at the Observatory on the 6th, and 3 ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS were trapped that day. The sparrows at Prince Edward Point are becoming more evident with peak counts of 90 WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS, 15 WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS and 30 DARK-EYED JUNCOS. The first FOX SPARROW was seen on the 10th. Only one INDIGO BUNTING has been noted so far, and it was wearing a band, although none has been banded here yet this fall. PINE SISKINS and RUSTY BLACKBIRDS are starting to move through with a peak of 15 PINE SISKINS and 25 RUSTY BLACKBIRDS on the 6th. With banders to the north catching plenty of BOREAL OWLS, the Observatory hopes they will also get one in the nets soon. Observers at Point Petre have reported a scattering of waterfowl including GREATER SCAUPS, WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS, HORNED GREBES, mergansers and a few early COMMON GOLDENEYES. While the weather is still half decent, birders walking any roadside right now will find plenty of activity to keep their binoculars busy. Sprague Road on Big Island has dozens of SONG, WHITE-CROWNED and WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS foraging in the fields and along the fencerows, along with DARK-EYED JUNCOS and at least four EASTERN TOWHEES. On October 8th, there were 3 PURPLE FINCHES at this location. Depot Lakes Conservation Area, northwest of Verona, had lots of movement today with numerous RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS, COMMON RAVENS, and dozens of RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES. As bird feeders slowly get under way for the season, already there is hawk activity at least one feeder in Forest Mills, where a SHARP-SHINNED HAWK has been preying on BLUE JAYS for the past week. Three EASTERN TOWHEES are also coming to this same feeder. And that's it for this week from Prince Edward County and the Quinte area. Our thanks to David Okines (Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory), Sue Vanwart, Derek Hasler, Henry Pasila, Silvia Botnik and Bruce DiLabio for their contributions to this week's report. This report, also posted in the BIRDING section of the NatureStuff website, will be updated by 8:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 17th. Bird sightings must be in by 6:00 p.m. on Sunday evening to be included in the next report. Good fall birding! Terry Sprague Picton, Ontario [EMAIL PROTECTED] www.naturestuff.net
