WEEKLY BIRD REPORT FOR PRINCE EDWARD COUNTY AND THE QUINTE AREA FOR
Thursday, February 03, 2005
We'll start this week's report by getting the GREAT GRAY OWLS out of the
way! Finally, numbers are starting to pick up in Prince Edward County.
Newcomers to the winter scene include one on Sprague Road, practically in
our backyard on January 30th and is still present (almost as cooperative as
the Henslow's sparrow behind our house in 1996 ! ); one on Gardenville Road
near Carrying Place on January 29th; another the same day off County Road 10
south of Milford; and one on January 28th at Massassauga Point. During the
week, several were seen along the Highway 62 corridor south of Madoc, with
others being reported from Crookston Road near Tweed, another on Highway 7
between Madoc and Marmora, another on Highway 30 south of Campbellford, one
near Roslin, one on Rapids Road south of Hunt Road in the Thomasburg area,
and one on Phillipson Road north of Belleville. Yesterday, one surprised a
cross country skier at the Quinte Conservation Area at Wallbridge/Loyalist
Road on the west side of Belleville.
WILD TURKEYS were also in the news during the week. Numbers ranging from a
couple on Demorestville Road to an incredible 109 on Ridge Road south of
Picton on January 28th were reported throughout the area. There were two
RUFFED GROUSE on Sprague Road February 1st, and on Lahey Road near Madoc a
total of 6 continue to feast on crabapples at a residence there, where there
was also a PILEATED WOODPECKER in the area, and 3 PINE GROSBEAKS visiting a
feeder. PINE GROSBEAKS were also seen yesterday on Meach Road northwest of
Selby.
Fine weather over the last few days has resulted in several reports of
AMERICAN ROBINS, with 8 being seen on Chuckery Hill Road, 6 near Bradley
Crossroad, about a dozen on Sprague Road and a high of 30 at 3792 County
Road 8 near The Rock. Elsewhere, it's winter as usual with COMMON REDPOLLS
still present at many feeders in the area, PINE SISKINS at a Trenton feeder,
small numbers of PURPLE FINCHES at feeders east of Lake-on-the-Mountain,
3792 County Road 8 near The Rock, Cressy, and at 2800 County Road 1 near
Bloomfield, where there has also been a WINTER WREN on the premises. The
feeder there always enjoys good patronage and among the regular clientel are
6 HAIRY WOODPECKERS, 8 DOWNY WOODPECKERS and 3 RED-BELLIED WOODPECKERS. A
feeder on Glenora Road still has a NORTHERN FLICKER along with a RED-BELLIED
WOODPECKER and about 30 COMMON REDPOLLS. While not at a feeder, a NORTHERN
MOCKINGBIRD at a residence just west of Caughey Road on Big Island was a
nice treat.
Birders out and about in the field during the week had some good luck at the
Weller's Bay Channel at Barcovan Beach where 100 MUTE SWANS were counted,
along with one TRUMPETER SWAN. Another estimate by another observer a few
days earlier had placed the number of swans at 150. Food placed out for the
waterfowl there had attracted about 20 SNOW BUNTINGS. Southwest of the
Murray Canal Bridge, a NORTHERN SHRIKE was seen consuming an AMERICAN ROBIN.
Another similar drama took place at Sandbanks Provincial Park when an
AMERICAN KESTREL was observed taking down a HORNED LARK. Speaking of which,
there was a small flock of HORNED LARKS seen in the Athol Bay area, and 6
were seen January 7th at Smoke's Point Road.
Hawks reported during the week included a SHARP-SHINNED HAWK at Carrying
Place on the 1st, NORTHERN HARRIER AT 1111 South Big Island Road on the 2nd,
a RED-TAILED HAWK on Bradley Crossroad late last month, and another at the
west end of Big Island on January 29th. BALD EAGLES were seen (1 adult) near
Cherry Valley, 2 adults at Prince Edward Bay on January 28th, and an
immature at the same location the same day.
And that's it for this week from Prince Edward County and the Quinte area.
Our thanks to Silvia Botnick, Henri Garand, Paul Wallace, Judith Gray, Janet
& Fred Chandler, Peter Marshall, Joe Victor, Donald McClure, Doug McRae &
Diane Whitman, Jim Ives, Vivien Taylor, Kim Peterson, Angela & Dave Mantle,
John & Margaret Moore, Marie Clarke, Pamela Martin, Vince Lynch, Lloyd Paul,
Diane Keele, Ernie Pope, Nancy Fox, John Charlton, Nick Quickert, Dale
Northrup, Susan MacKay, Mia Lane, and Thomas Rymes for their contributions
to this week's report. This report will be updated on Thursday, February
10th. Bird sightings may be forwarded to [EMAIL PROTECTED] at any time before
the Thursday 6:00 p.m. deadline. This report also appears on the NatureStuff
website at www.naturestuff.net under BIRDING, with this week's feature photo
of two Mute Swans, taken in Athol Bay by Bloomfield resident Donald McClure.
Terry Sprague
Picton, Ontario
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
www.naturestuff.net
