WEEKLY BIRD REPORT FROM PRINCE EDWARD COUNTY AND THE QUINTE AREA FOR THE
WEEK ENDING Thursday, February 02, 2006
We expect that the snowdrops in bloom, reported from Thurlow, Cobourg and
Prince Edward County, and the crocuses at Sheba's Island, not to mention the
many birds displaying courtship behaviour, may all get a surprise when
winter returns, which it will surely do, one day. For now though, the mixed
bag of weather this past week comprising both sun and rain, mud and balmy
temperatures, has resulted in waterfowl being almost the only thing of
interest. At the Outlet River and East Lake from the Glendon Green boat
launch, signs of aggressive territorial behaviour was noted from 6 MUTE
SWANS who aggressively prevented 10 TUNDRA SWANS from entering the water
from the edge of the ice last Friday. Adolphus Reach, now quite open,
hundreds of CANADA GEESE were present during the week, along with MUTE
SWANS, MALLARDS, BUFFLEHEADS, and mergansers. Adolphus Reach still harbours
BALD EAGLES, but not in the same numbers that had been present earlier this
winter. Up to four have been spotted at one time. down from the previous
nine. With more open water available to them now in areas previously frozen
solid, it seems many of them have moved elsewhere, and on Hayward Long Reach
between Green Point and Essroc Cement there were seven seen on Saturday.
Another BALD EAGLE (adult) was seen today at South Bay.
The birding at my feeder continues to be so poor that even the neighbours
cat has lost interest in the few birds that now visit only occasionally.
With few exceptions, the story is the same throughout the Quinte area. Any
birds represented in high numbers now, are mostly EUROPEAN STARLINGS and
members of the blackbird family. At one location on Ridge Road, southwest of
Picton, a flock of 100 RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS and BROWN-HEADED COWBIRDS
descended, only to leave a short time later. One feeder in the Madoc area
though continues to do very well with about 100 AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES still
hanging in there, this same location also harbouring a NORTHERN SAW-WHET
OWL. The grey phase EASTERN SCREECH OWL continues to occupy a wood duck
nesting box at Peat's Point in Prince Edward County, just south of
Belleville.
NORTHERN SHRIKES during the week turned up on Gomorrah Road on the 27th,
Carrying Place on the 28th, and along Massassauga Road on the 29th. A
RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER showed up a few days ago at a feeder located at the
end of Cromwell Road between Madoc and Queensboro. Closer to home, a male
RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER was seen on the 28th at the Stinson Block, west of
Consecon, where a juvenile SHARP-SHINNED HAWK was also seen. Another
juvenile SHARP-SHINNED HAWK was observed the same day in the Barcovan area,
along with 4 PINE SISKINS, a BROWN CREEPER, NORTHERN FLICKER and 2
RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES.
PILEATED WOODPECKERS during the week were seen at Green Point on the 28th,
and two females are still frequenting a backyard in the Barry Heights area
of Trenton. An AMERICAN KESTREL turned up on Sunday south of Hillier.
And that's it for this week from Prince Edward County and the Quinte area.
Our thanks to Paul Kenny, Carol Robinson, Nick Quickert, Wally & Bonnie
Cromwell, Craig & Tana Fulton, David Boyd, John & Margaret Moore, Peter
Marshall, Terry Doble, John Blaney, Paul Wallace, Barry Pinsky, Donn & John
Legate, John Foster, John Charlton, Lloyd Paul and Bill Hogg for their
contributions to this week's report. This report will be updated on
Thursday, February 9th. Bird sightings may be forwarded to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
any time 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
feature photo of a RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER at a feeder between Madoc and
Queensboro is by Wally Cromwell.
Terry Sprague
Prince Edward County
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
www.naturestuff.net
