WEEKLY BIRD REPORT FROM PRINCE EDWARD COUNTY AND THE QUINTE AREA FOR THE
WEEK ENDING Thursday, November 08, 2007
It would seem apparent that local residents are very interested in the
return of the BALD EAGLE to Prince Edward County if an attendance of 130 at
a bald eagle seminar in Picton last night is any indication. On hand to
present were Terry Sprague on the history of the bald eagle in the county,
and MNR biologist Kate Maddigan who outlined plans to install eagle nesting
platforms. Also present were nature film makers John & Janet Foster as they
sat and watched their own video, The Bald Eagles of Nova Scotia. And as if
reinforcing their comeback to the area, the BALD EAGLES themselves were
present this week throughout at least the eastern part of the county,
including immatures at Long Reach, a first year bird at Morrison's Point,
and an adult bird in the Black River/South Bay area where one has been
present all summer.
However, even more numerous than the BALD EAGLES this past week have been
RED-TAILED HAWKS with numerous reports coming in from across the region,
their presence heightened by RED-SHOULDERED HAWK (1) and ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK
(4) and MERLIN (2) at Prince Edward Point from November 4th to 7th. Up to
three NORTHERN SHRIKES have been present as well in the Prince Edward Point
area, but not to be outdone were 4 BARRED OWLS and 2 EASTERN SCREECH OWLS.
ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS (4) also turned up during the week over some corn fields
near Wellington.
Prince Edward Point continues to provide good birding this month. On
November 4th, as part of the Kingston Field Naturalists Fall Roundup, a few
outstanding observations were made including RED-THROATED LOON (5 were
present the previous day), PACIFIC LOON and 400 COMMON LOONS. HORNED GREBES
(575) and 7 RED-NECKED GREBES, and an EARED GREBE - still in summer plumage
albeit faded, was spotted November 2nd in the area of the lighthouse.
Another was reported the following day at Little bluff Conservation Area.
Also checked off in the Long Point Peninsula of the county, was a single
raft of 50,000 GREATER SCAUP which has increased steadily in size over the
past few weeks. LONG-TAILED DUCKS are also present in good numbers with over
1700 that can be seen in the area, as well as BUFFLEHEADS (250). Waterfowl
on Big Island's Muscote Bay has decreased to only a few hundred, but still
comprising mainly MALLARDS, RING-NECKED DUCKS and AMERICAN WIGEON. Twenty
MUTE SWANS, the highest number ever for that bay, were counted during the
week.
Red Cedars in some areas of the county have produced sufficient fruit this
year to attract at least a few wintering birds. In the Prince Edward Point
area, 800 AMERICAN ROBINS were seen on the weekend, and 20 YELLOW-RUMPED
WARBLERS were also observed. Late migrants during the week included a
BLUE-HEADED VIREO, CHIPPING SPARROW, FOX SPARROW, 12 WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS
and a BLUE-HEADED VIREO, all at Prince Edward Point on the 4th. A
RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET was in the Prince Edward Point area on the 7th.
At least one of the three SANDHILL CRANES is still around. A resident in the
Cressy area was surprised when he turned in his driveway and found one
standing there! Another resident said the bird was foraging on wild grapes
and other berries as he followed with his camera about 100 feet away while
the bird casually made its way down from County Road 7 to the water's edge
where he was able to get one of this week's featured photos which appears
with the online edition of this report. Two SANDHILL CRANES were also seen
along Huff's Island Road on October 29th.
Offsetting the late migrants were species more typical of the season to
come. SNOW BUNTINGS in loose flocks, from lone individuals to about two
dozen are turning up everywhere now, and AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS are becoming
regulars at most feeding stations across the region, but not in large
numbers yet. Bird feeder operators have had their appetite whetted by the
appearance of PINE SISKINS at several locations, and numerous sightings of
EVENING GROSBEAKS making brief visits at some feeders, but never in very
large numbers. A single COMMON REDPOLL showed up at a Glenora Road feeder,
and together with the dozen or so seen last week in Bloomfield, and another
12 at Prince Edward Point on the weekend, provide encouragement about the
appearance of this northern finch at feeders this winter. RED-BREASTED
NUTHATCHES in ones and twos are still present at many feeders across the
county as this species continues to filter through, although some may
represent individuals planning to stay.
We won't bother mentioning the COMMON RAVEN that was seen at Prince Edward
Point, or the one that has returned for another encore at the east end of
Big Island, as their occurrences across the county are becoming so
commonplace these days. We also won't mention the GREAT HORNED OWLS that
seem to be actively calling from several locations at night.
Other noteworthy sightings during the week included a BOHEMIAN WAXWING at
Prince Edward Point on the 4th, a lingering DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT at
Muscote Bay, GREAT BLUE HERONS at several locations, and 2 LITTLE GULLS on
East Lake on the 7th.
And that's it for this week from Prince Edward County and the Quinte area.
Our thanks to John & Margaret Moore, Judy Kent, Dirk deDoer, Ron Weir, Henri
Garand, Brian Durell, Owen Weir, Sandra Dowds, Paul Wallace, Silvia Botnick,
Andy Margetson, Laura Murray, Dave Shannon, Ted Cullin, Fiona King and Bruce
Ripley for their contributions to this week's report. This report will be
updated on Thursday, November 15th, but sightings can be e-mailed any time
before the 6:00 p.m. Thursday deadline. Featured photos this week in the
online edition of the Quinte Area Bird Report include an adult BALD EAGLE by
Susan Shipman of Wellington and the Cressy SANDHILL CRANE by resident Paul
Wallace. Paul also took the photo that appears on the main Birding Page of
the NatureStuff website. Good late fall birding everyone!
Terry Sprague
Prince Edward County
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
www.naturestuff.net
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