WEEKLY BIRD REPORT FROM PRINCE EDWARD COUNTY AND THE QUINTE AREA FOR THE
WEEK ENDING Thursday, May 10, 2007
This is the time in May when the first robin doesn't seem all that exciting
anymore. All eyes are glued to the tree tops these days to see what each new
day will bring in the way of new migrants. And late yesterday, at Prince
Edward Point, it was the arrival of a KENTUCKY WARBLER, near the wetland at
the Point Traverse corner. At least 26 species of warblers have shown up at
this now famous point of land in Prince Edward County, and among them, a
very early BLACKPOLL WARBLER on May 9th, in the Point Traverse Woods.
Warbler migration has started in earnest with a BLUE-WINGED WARBLER on the
5th and three were seen on the 8th. GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLERS arrived on the
6th and six were seen on the 9th Two BREWSTER'S WARBLERS were trapped on the
8th with a further 5 trapped the next day (only three had been trapped in
the previous 12 years). TENNESSEE WARBLERS arrived on the 10th and NASHVILLE
WARBLERS are increasing with a peak of 50 on the 9th. Four NORTHERN PARULAS
were found on the 5th and similar numbers are being seen daily, YELLOW
WARBLERS are also arriving and peaked at 60 on the 9th The first
CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLERS were found on the 8th and 10 were present the next
day. MAGNOLIAS arrived on the 7th and CAPE MAYS and BLACK-THROATED BLUES
arrived on the 5th. MYRTLE or YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS have been moving
through in large numbers with up to 350 seen most days during the week.
BLACK-THROATED GREENS arrived on the 5th and BLACKBURNIANS arrived on the
8th. A BAY-BREASTED turned up in the nets on the 10th while an AMERICAN
REDSTART was trapped on the 8th, OVENBIRDS arrived on the 5th and five were
present on the 9th. COMMON YELLOWTHROATS arrived on the 6th and a WILSON'S
was found on the 9th The star bird of the warblers at the Observatory was a
YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT trapped on the 10th. SCARLET TANAGERS were seen on the
5th, 9th and 10th and the first CLAY-COLORED SPARROW was singing on the 9th.
LINCOLN'S SPARROWS first arrived on the 5th and 10 were counted on the 9th
The first big movement of WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS was on the 5th when 120
were seen and WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS arrived in force on the 9th when 130
were seen. DARK-EYED JUNCOS have all but gone now. The ROSE-BREASTED
GROSBEAKS were on the feeders by the 4th and 15 were around on the 8th.
BOBOLINKS were singing by the 8th and an ORCHARD ORIOLE was found on the 9th
at which time BALTIMORE ORIOLES numbered 18. A ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK
trapped on the 10th was found to be wearing a band with a strange number on
it, instead of the normal US Fish and Wildlife band. It was sporting one
with a Columbian address, and the details of its banding will be eagerly
awaited on that one.
Also at Prince Edward Point, DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT numbers offshore are
remaining steady at 500, two NORTHERN SHOVELER were seen around the harbour
on the 5th/6th and up to 30 SURF SCOTER can be found daily off the cliffs
at Point Traverse. LONG-TAILED DUCKS numbered 5000 on the 5th and 400
WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS were counted on the 4th, and three late COMMON
GOLDENEYE flew over on the 6th. An adult BALD EAGLE was seen on the 4th and
an OSPREY spent a few hours sitting in a tree on the 8th. SANDHILL CRANES
have been heard twice during the week. Shorebirds seen included a GREATER
YELLOWLEGS on the 9th, a SOLITARY SANDPIPER on the 5th and LEAST SANDPIPERS
on the 6th and 7th. Two AMERICAN WOODCOCKS were flushed near the lighthouse
on the 5th and another bird was calling on the evening of the 7th near the
Observatory. A FORSTERS TERN was seen on the 4th and CASPIAN TERNS are now
seen daily.
The first BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO appeared in a net on the 10th. Single CHIMNEY
SWIFTS were seen flying over on the 5th and 9th, while THE Observatory's
first RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD was seen on the 5th. LEAST FLYCATCHERS are
being seen daily now and 12 were present on the 9th as was a GREAT-CRESTED
FLYCATCHER, and the first EASTERN WOOD PEWEE was heard in the Point Traverse
Woods on the 9th. WARBLING VIREOS arrived on the 5th when 6 were found, and
the spring BLUE JAY migration has gotten underway with 15+ being seen daily
although 30+ were found on the 10th. A COMMON RAVEN has been seen three
times during the week. Two RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES were found at Point
Traverse on the 5th and two were present at the Observatory on the 8th. The
occasional BROWN CREEPERS continue to put in an appearance while a late
WINTER WREN was trapped on the 9th. GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS have almost
finished moving but RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS continue to pass through with 100
seen on the 9th. BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHERS appeared on the 6th, the first VEERY
appeared on the 5th and WOOD THRUSHES arrived on the 8th with 12 present the
next day. GRAY CATBIRDS arrived on the 5th and 25 were present on the 9th.
Elsewhere around the Quinte area, MARSH WRENS at the Big Island Marsh were
first heard on the 7th, COMMON TERNS were present at Beaver Meadow on the
4th and 20 CASPIAN TERNS were counted on a freshly tilled field along
Mallory Road the same day. There are few residents who don't have
ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAKS at their feeders and one feeder along Glenora Road
has 6, along with an INDIGO BUNTING. At least 40 LESSER SCAUP continue to be
present on Muscote Bay, and outside the county, the NORTHERN GOSHAWKS,
reported from the Thomasburg area some weeks ago, are still occupied with
household chores there. At Point Petre, a few of the interesting
observations to come in this week included a RED-HEADED WOODPECKER on May
4th, UPLAND SANDPIPER, GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL, BLUE-WINGED TEAL, and a few
lingering BUFFLEHEAD. BLACK TERNS were found at East Lake on the 9th, and
there were PIED-BILLED GREBE, COMMON MOORHEN and WOOD DUCK at Beaver Meadow
the same day. A flock of RUSTY BLACKBIRDS at Big Island that peaked at 250
some weeks ago, have dwindled to fewer than a dozen most mornings. And the
season's first GRASSHOPPER SPARROW was seen along Benway Road on the 9th.
I will be at Prince Edward Point from May 12th to the 18th leading birding
tours. Tours begin every morning (except for the 13th) at 8:00 a.m. and cost
for the two-hour tour is $5 per person with revenue going to the Prince
Edward Point Bird Observatory. These birding walks begin just prior to the
Point Traverse corner and walking is easy over groomed trails. Look for the
silver Jeep Grand Cherokee with the activated amber beacon. Bring your
coffee because you're a long way from a Tim Horton's, and having said that,
I have even arranged for a portable washroom to be there when you arrive! I
look forward to seeing everyone. Prince Edward Point is located at the
south-eastern tip of Prince Edward County. Obtain a good map of the county
and head for County Road 13 and stay on it until you reach the Prince Edward
Point National Wildlife Area. Travel time from Picton is about 45 minutes.
Terry Sprague
Prince Edward County
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
www.naturestuff.net
