WEEKLY BIRD REPORT FROM PRINCE EDWARD COUNTY AND THE QUINTE AREA FOR THE
WEEK ENDING Thursday, September 13, 2007
Once again, the AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN is our lead story for this week's
edition of the Quinte Area Bird Report. Although it might seem a little
anthropormorpic to claim that the pelican is now onto us, it does seem to be
causing birders considerable grief, who are trying to spot the rare visitor.
Last Thursday, the bird was near the east end of Muscote Bay, but when
birders went for a look, the bird had once again disappeared, but was seen
the following day flying over Highway 2 near Belleville. On Tuesday, it
showed once again at Muscote Bay, this time at the west end of Goose Island,
where it was still present this afternoon and easily spotted from County
Road 14. Good luck in adding this bird to your year's list!
A little more cooperative was a PINE SISKIN that turned up unexpetedly at a
feeder along Fry Road on the 9th, perhapos a good omen for the winter ahead,
given that another was seen at Prince Edward Point this past week. A new
species was added to my own yard list at 23 Sprague Road this afternoon when
a COMMON RAVEN called noisily as it flew over our house. Others were heard
during the week at Cape Vesey. We are still waiting with great anticipation
when this species, now being seen fairly regulalry in Prince Edward County,
produces it first nest. EASTERN SCREECH-OWLS have been heard calling at
three locations in Prince Edward Countyduring the week.
MAGNOLIA, BLACK-THROATED BLUE, BLACK-THROATED GREEN, NASHVILLE and
CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLERS were all seen early in the week at an address near
the corner of Gagne and Fry Roads in the county, and several YELLOW-BELLIED
SAPSUCKERS showed up in Stirling several days ago.
At Prince Edward Point, it has been a quiet week with no decent arrivals
yet. Small groups of 5 - 15 CANADA GEESE are to be seen going over on most
days but no big movements have occurred so far, with 40 on the 11th being
the best day. Three BALD EAGLES were seen on the 8th and a single BALD EAGLE
circled the point a few times on the 12th. On the 12th the winds were from
the northwest and raptors started to move, with 150 SHARP-SHINNED HAWKS
seen, as were 3 COOPER'S HAWKS, 2 NORTHERN GOSHAWKS, 15 BROAD-WINGED HAWKS
and 25 RED-TAILED HAWKS. Three AMERICAN KESTRELS were seen on the 11th.
The only shorebirds seen this week at the Point were 1-3 KILLDEERS on the
beach on the 9th - 13th. A CASPIAN TERN on the 7th was the only one seen all
week. Two EASTERN SCREECH-OWLS were calling just after dark on the 10th. One
to three RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRDS have been seen in a day and 6 were
present on the 10th. NORTHERN FLICKERS are starting to move with one on the
8th and at least 6 present on the 13th. There were two EASTERN WOOD-PEWEES
present on the 8th and two YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHERS were trapped on the
11th. A LEAST FLYCATCHER on the 12th was the first for a week. A BLUE-HEADED
VIREO was trapped on the 10th and two more were trapped on the 13th, as was
a WARBLING VIREO. BLUE JAYS have started to move in numbers and 225 were
seen on the 11th, with 350 going over the next day.
With the northwesterlies on the 12th came 15 TREE SWALLOWS and a BARN
SWALLOW. RED and WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCHES continue to move in small numbers
and 4 of each were seen on the 11th and 12th, and 8 RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES
were seen on the 13th. The first WINTER WREN of the fall appeared in a net
on the 10th and occasional HOUSE WRENS are still putting in an appearance.
Thrushes have been slow with just the occasional VEERY or SWAINSON'S THRUSH
being seen, and a WOOD THRUSH was seen on the 8th.
Two TENNESSEE WARBLERS were trapped on the 10th and two NORTHERN PARULAS
were trapped on the 11th with another present on the 13th. MAGNOLIA WARBLERS
continue to trickle through with 15 seen on the 10th and 12th. Twelve
BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLERS were seen on the 12th, as was a single
YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER. A BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER was trapped on the 12th and
was 8 days after the last one. The first WESTERN PALM WARBLER of the fall
was trapped on the 10th and three more were trapped on the 13th. Ten
BLACKPOLL WARBLERS were seen on the 8th and 15 were seen on the 12th. An
OVENBIRD was found on the 10th and single NORTHERN WATERTHRUSHES were seen
on the 10th and 12th. A WHITE-THROATED SPARROW was seen on the 7th and two
were banded on the 12th and 13th. Three BALTIMORE ORIOLES were seen in the
bushes on the 8th. PURPLE FINCHES are still showing up in small numbers and
AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES are still increasing with 200 seen on the 11th and 150
the next day. Finally that herald of the winter finches, the PINE SISKIN
appeared and was soon trapped on the 11th.
Bird feeder operators are gearing up for the season, and already business is
brisk. A feeder along Highway 33 near Glenora has up to 25 PURPLE FINCHES
visiting regularly as this species continues to migrate through, along with
4 ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAKS. A half dozen each of HAIRY and DOWNY WOODPECKERS,
25 AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES, 10 HOUSE FINCHES, 2 RED-BELLIED WOODPECKERS and
four NORTHERN CARDINALS are just a taste of what this feeder is guaranteed
to produce once the season really gets moving. A bird bath there also had 2
SCARLET TANAGERS during the week. RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES were present at
many feeders during the week, suggesting a passage of this species, and a
RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER turned up this week at a Bloomfield feeder.
RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRDS are still going strong at many feeders across the
region, and DOWNY WOODPECKERS at Sheba's Island continue to behave like
hummingbirds at a nectar feeder there, as well as at a feeder on Walmsley
Road.
And that's it for this week from Prince Edward County and the Quinte area.
Our thanks to David Okines (Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory), Henri
Garand, Jim Howes, Anne Potter, Ted Pordham, Mike Burge & Kathy Felkar,
Silvia Botnick, John & Margaret Moore, Fred Chandler, and Donald McClure for
their contributions to this week's report. This report will be updated on
Thursday, September 20th, but sightings can be e-mailed any time before the
6:00 p.m. Thursday deadline. Featured photos this week in the online version
of the Quinte Area Bird Report include PINE SISKINS by Dirk deBoer of
Belleville, and a grey phase EASTERN SCREECH-OWL by Donald McClure of
Bloomfield. Photo of MICHAEL RUNTZ on the main BIRDING page of the
NatureStuff website is a reminder of the Prince Edward Point Bird
Observatory Annual Dinner coming up on Saturday, October 20th. Be sure to
visit the website for more details.
Terry Sprague
Prince Edward County
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
www.naturestuff.net
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