WEEKLY BIRD REPORT FROM PRINCE EDWARD COUNTY AND THE QUINTE AREA FOR THE
WEEK ENDING Thursday, May 03, 2006
The advertising is out for the upcoming Prince Edward County Birding
Festival, May 13-22, and the spring migrants are appearing at centre stage
to put on their best show. It is always at this time of the year when
reports of spring migrants from interested observers become so numerous for
this report, it becomes a time consuming challenge to sort through the first
arrival dates. While Prince Edward Point generally produces earlier first
sightings than other observers due to the daily banding activities and
monitoring, it would appear that at least a few observers recorded some
earlier dates elsewhere. A suspected LEAST BITTERN and VIRGINIA RAIL were
heard by one observer at Beaver Meadow on April 30th. Bird feeders at Henry
Street and Barker Street in Picton had INDIGO BUNTINGS on May 2nd and 3rd
respectively, and BOBOLINKS put in their appearance at Big Island and
Elmbrook on May 3rd. Two CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLERS were found by one birder at
Prince Edward Point on the 1st, the first of that species to be recorded,
and a surprise appearance by a LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH took place on May 1st,
also at the Point. Both LESSER and GREATER YELLOWLEGS, 1 BLACK-BELLIED
PLOVER and a SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER turned up for several observers through
the week at the Bucknell's Slough on Wesley Acres Road, south of Bloomfield.
A single HOUSE WREN was singing at the Quinte Conservation Area on April
29th. An ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER and a VEERY at Prince Edward Point on the
1st were also new additions to the spring arrival list.
But, it continues to be Prince Edward Point where the action is these days,
and with the start of May, more species are starting to appear back. This
week has been good at the Point and 14 species of warblers have now been
recorded here. Today a GREEN HERON was seen flying around the harbour,
CANADA GEESE have been moving this week with up to 600 in a day going over.
LONG-TAILED DUCK numbers offshore are still fluctuating with as few as 50
being seen some days, while other days up to 8000 are being seen. There
seems to be a small resurgence of BUFFLEHEAD around the entrance to the
harbour with up to 70 being present on some days.
An OSPREY was fishing in the harbour on the 2nd and a COOPER'S HAWK was
present for two days. A BROAD-WINGED HAWK was seen today and a PEREGRINE
FALCON flew out to False Duck Island on the 2nd. Two hundred to 3000
BONAPARTE'S GULLS are still being seen offshore with one LITTLE GULL among
them on the 3rd. Five or six CASPIAN TERNS are being seen daily now but no
other terns have been recorded yet.
A second year RED-HEADED WOODPECKER was seen around the banding area today
and late YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKERS were seen on the 29th and 30th. PILEATED
WOODPECKERS were seen on the 30th and 3rd. An EASTERN KINGBIRD appeared in
the evening on the 3rd and the first 2 LEAST FLYCATCHERS turned up today.
The 3rd saw the return of the first RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD which was
trapped and banded. BLUE-HEADED VIREOS have increased with 7 seen on the
1st and the first 2 WARBLING VIREOS appeared on the 3rd. As is usual at
this time of the year, BLUE JAYS have started to return with up to 45 being
seen in a day and these will increase in number over the next week or two.
A COMMON RAVEN was seen being chased westwards by a COMMON CROW about
three kilometers up the road from here on the 30th. The BARN SWALLOWS and
CLIFF SWALLOWS are taking an interest in the building here again and some
nest building has started. RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES are becoming commoner
with 10 birds being present on the 3rd. HOUSE WRENS returned on the 29th and
an EASTERN BLUEBIRD was seen on the 30th. RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS are still to
be found in large numbers with 60 - 100 around most days. Up to 40 HERMIT
THRUSHES have been found in a day and the first 2 WOOD THRUSHES appeared on
the 2nd.
Two NASHVILLE WARBLERS arrived on the 30th along with one PINE WARBLER, 2
Yellow PALM WARBLERS, 2 BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLERS and 2 NORTHERN
WATERTHRUSHES. A GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLER was trapped on the 1st and another
was trapped on today. Today BLUE-WINGED WARBLERS were seen at Point
Traverse and near the Harbour, and a BREWSTER'S WARBLER was also banded. A
YELLOW WARBLER was seen next to the Harbour on the 1st, a CAPE MAY WARBLER
was seen at Point Traverse today. BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLERS were first
found on the 1st when 8 were seen, two PINE WARBLERS were banded on the 1st,
and Yellow PALM WARBLERS were banded on the 3rd and 4th. Today at least two
BLACKBURNIAN WARBLERS were seen in the woods and OVENBIRDS are being seen
daily. Since the 1st, CHIPPING SPARROW numbers have increased and 70 were
seen on the 2nd, LINCOLN'S SPARROWS have started to appear, and there were
at least 120 WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS present on the 30th and the 2nd and
there were 200 present on the 1st. Eastern WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS showed up
on the 3rd and 25+ were present today. Yet another HOUSE SPARROW appeared
at the Point on the 29th, and ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAKS have returned to chew
on the banders' fingers once again with the first one appearing on the 1st.
BALTIMORE ORIOLES are starting to add colour to the area with the first one
appearing on the 1st. Two ORCHARD ORIOLES appeared today at Point Traverse
and around the Harbour. Finally 2 VIRGINIA RAILS were seen at the end of the
Harbour on the 3rd.
In most backyards now, the species of the week appear to be both the
WHITE-THROATED SPARROW and the WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW, with numerous
homeowners reporting both ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAKS and INDIGO BUNTINGS now
coming to backyard feeders. An impressive 20 PURPLE FINCHES are regulars at
a feeder on Glenora Road and a BALTIMORE ORIOLE is coming to at least one
nectar feeder in the area.
Plan to join us for the Prince Edward County Birding Festival. Complete
details at www.thecounty.ca/birding . Over 100 events taking place
throughout the county, from guided tours, photography workshops and guest
speakers to history walks, museum displays and bird banding demonstrations.
I will be leading hikes nearly every morning, leaving at 8:00 a.m. and
lasting for a couple of hours.
And that's it for this week from Prince Edward County and the Quinte area.
Or thanks to David Okines, Lloyd Paul, Michael Jaques, John Blaney, John
Charlton, Joanne Dewey, Will & Greta Ogden, Marg York, Henry Pasila, Don
Chisholm, Liza Castle, Laura Pierce, Nancy Smitts, Silvia Botnick, Henri
Garand, Fred Chandler and Angela Mantle and Bruce Ripley (Belleville) for
their contributions to this week's report. This report will be updated on
Thursday, May 11th. Bird sightings may be forwarded any time to
[EMAIL PROTECTED] 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 photo of an INDIGO BUNTING is by Russ Kitchen.
Terry Sprague
Prince Edward County
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
www.naturestuff.net
