WEEKLY BIRD REPORT FROM PRINCE EDWARD COUNTY AND THE QUINTE AREA FOR
Thursday, November 24, 2005
With close to 15 cm of snow falling overnight and today over much of the
Quinte area, and much cooler temperatures toward the end of the day, signs
of winter's approach are definitely upon us. However, at least 2 female
BALTIMORE ORIOLES, both females, were still present in the area as of last
weekend. An individual was found on Amherst Island on the 19th, and there
was another present at Trenton the following day. Two EASTERN BLUEBIRDS on
Ridge Road, south of Picton, likely represent individuals that are intending
to winter in the area, and a CAROLINA WREN at Morrison's Point is settling
in once again in the area and visiting a bird feeder there. COMMON GRACKLES
can still be found at a feeder in the Shelter Valley Mobile Home Park, south
of Picton, and another has been hanging around a feeder in the Allisonville
area. Two lingering GREAT BLUE HERONS were seen on the Bay of Quinte on the
22nd, and another (or possibly one of the two) showed up at nearby Muscote
Bay on the 23rd.
Birds more appropriate for the season included a flock of at least 200
SNOW BUNTINGS on the Tufftsville Road near Stirling on the 20th. A SNOWY OWL
was seen on the 22nd along George's Road, east of Northport, and what was
likely another SNOWY OWL was seen on the 19th on County Road 1 near McFaul
Road. EVENING GROSBEAKS continue to tantalize observers with sporadic
visits here and there, suggesting this species may be visiting at least a
few bird feeders in the county this winter. In addition to those mentioned
in last week's report, 17 turned up at a feeder on Crookston Road in the
Madoc area on the 20th. DARK-EYED JUNCOS remain in good numbers throughout
the region indicating a larger wintering population this season, than in the
past. Also present in high numbers at bird feeders right now are AMERICAN
GOLDFINCHES with counts ranging anywhere from 20 to 40 per feeder. One PINE
SISKIN visiting a feeder at 642 Elmbrook Road doesn't look too encouraging
for this species at feeders this winter. At Picton's Shelter Valley Mobile
Home Park, there was a flock of 30 WILD TURKEYS wandering about on the lawn
of one residence.
Out in the country, there was a flock of 20 WILD TURKEYS on Centreville
Road east of Highway 41 north of Napanee today, but a hike on the 3 km trail
in the snow nearby at the Hell Holes Caves and Ravines yielded only a RUFFED
GROUSE and cold feet. Beaver Meadow Wildlife Management Area in Prince
Edward County later in the day produced a RED-TAILED HAWK, and a COOPER'S
HAWK turned up at Massassauga Point Conservation Area an hour later. An
interesting capture, not involving a hawk, was witnessed by one observer in
the Elmbrook area today when a PURPLE FINCH collided with a window. As it
sat groggily recovering in a bush, a BLUE JAY came by and jabbed at it with
its beak. It then picked up the PURPLE FINCH and flew off with it in its
claws - or should we call them talons in this case? Also in a "fowl" mood
this afternoon were 2 COMMON RAVENS attacking a RED-TAILED HAWK at the
south end of Elmbrook. Must be the change in the weather.
Out on the water, there was a male SURF SCOTER with 20 to 30
WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS on the 24th at West Point. Other species of waterfowl
noted in this area of Sandbanks Park have been RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS,
BUFFLEHEAD and LONG-TAILED DUCKS. Muscote Bay at Big Island has 8 MUTE
SWANS, 10 AMERICAN WIGEONS and 20 HOODED MERGANSERS. The latter species can
also be seen on Trenton's Temur Lake (off Wooler Road) where as many as 30
have been present this past week. There are 150 CANADA GEESE and BUFFLEHEADS
in the Bay of Quinte off George's Road, and the number of MUTE SWANS at
Sheba's Island in West Lake dropped from last week's 51 to 35 in the last
few days.
And that's it for this week from Prince Edward County and the Quinte
area. Our thanks to Nick Quickert, John & Janet Foster, George Underhill,
Cathie Stewart, Donn Legate, Brian Durell, Marilyn Holland-Foster, Eileen
Robbins, Ted Cullin, Ove and Mary-Ann Ojaste, Henri Garand, John & Margaret
Moore, John Charlton, David Bree, Suzanne Pierson and Joanne Dewey for their
contributions to this week's report. This report will be updated on
Thursday, December 1st. Bird sightings may be forwarded to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
any time before the Thursday 6:00 p.m. deadline. This report also appears
for a period of seven days on the NatureStuff website, under BIRDING, where
this week's featured photo of a WILD TURKEY by Dave Bell of Belleville.
Terry Sprague
Prince Edward County
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
www.naturestuff.net
