WEEKLY BIRD REPORT FROM PRINCE EDWARD COUNTY AND THE QUINTE AREA FOR THE WEEK ENDING Thursday, June 05, 2008
With the spring bird migration winding down, and spring bird banding activities concluded at Prince Edward Point last week, the Quinte Area Bird Report will gradually ease into a more relaxed mode as local birds continue with nesting activities. At Sandbanks Provincial Park, there are at least two MOURNING WARBLERS and a NASHVILLE WARBLER on territory in the pine plantations, along with a WHITE-THROATED SPARROW and another of the latter in the Cedars Campground of the park. A pair of RED-HEADED WOODPECKERS is still nesting in the Dunes Beach Area parking lot. Also found in the pine plantation in the park's West Lake Sector are at least two pairs of RED-BELLIED WOODPECKERS and GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS. BLACKPOLL WARBLERS are still being heard in the park, and one was singing at Prince Edward Point on Monday morning. After daily choruses of song from spring migrants in mid-May, the trails down there are strangely quiet now. Only YELLOW WARBLERS, a BALTIMORE ORIOLE or two (including one that sings like a Carolina wren), a persistent EASTERN WOOD-PEWEE and a distant BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO were the only sounds picked up along the trails in the Point Traverse Woods on Monday. The WHITE-WINGED DOVE was still present there as of June 1st. On Sunday, AMERICAN REDSTARTS were in the area of the harbour, and 10 BALTIMORE ORIOLES, an ORCHARD ORIOLE and CEDAR WAXWINGS were also present. Several PINE WARBLERS were singing in the red pine plantation at the Sidney Conservation Area, south of Stirling Monday evening, a single YELLOW-RUMPLED WARBLER was present at Massassauga Point Conservation Area yesterday evening. NORTHERN WATERTHRUSHES have been heard singing at Lake on the Mountain, and three were singing along the Millennium Trail west of Palmer-Burris Road several days ago. COMMON NIGHTHAWKS were seen at several locations, including 4 over Lake on the Mountain on the evening of May 31st, one along Sprague Road June 2nd, and another in the George's Road area. WHIP-POOR-WILLS have been calling every evening along County Road 13 at South Bay. If our own yard is any indication, it is starting out to be a great year for nesting. Both GRAY CATBIRDS and BROWN THRASHERS, a pair of WARBLING VIREOS and CHIPPING SPARROWS are all nesting on our lot. GRAY CATBIRDS are also nesting in a South Bay backyard. Two reports of EASTERN BLUEBIRDS nesting came from the Roslin and Tweed areas, both locations having suffered bouts with blow flies, but most succeeding with the second attempt. Both INDIGO BUNTINGS and ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAKS are still coming to feeders across the region. While driving on Big Island's Caughey Crossroad yesterday evening, I had to stop the car and wait as about a dozen WILD TURKEYS scurried one by one out of the grass and across the road ahead of me, with heads held low and their feet a blur. Less inclined to flee was a TURKEY VULTURE feeding on a carcass beside the road along North Big Island Road. It seems to be the season or, at least, the week, for birds to either dash or remain steadfast on the road. Along Big Island's causeway two evenings ago, an AMERICAN BITTERN did its best to stand erect with its beak pointed skyward, although there was virtually nothing behind it except a kilometre of pavement to conceal the bird. It finally flew when it saw that its efforts were all in vain, the second time I have had this happen along the same stretch of road. Two SANDHILL CRANES were seen at 7:00 p.m this evening in a field at Mountain View near Huff's Island Road. And that's it for this week from Prince Edward County and the Quinte area. Our thanks to Bob Barber, John & Janet Foster, Cliff Mclean, Joanne Dewey, Adam Penson, Marilyn Holland-Foster, Frank Artes & Carolyn Barnes, Donna Fano, John Blaney, Angela Mantle, Wayne McNulty, and Pamela Stagg for their contributions to this week's report. This report will be updated on Thursday, June 12th, but sightings can be e-mailed any time before the Wednesday night deadline. Featured photo on the Main Birding Page of the NatureStuff website of Birdathoners Terry Sprague, Mike Runtz and Brian Joyce is by Pamela Stagg of Lake on the Mountain. Photos in the online version of the Quinte Area Bird Report include a ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK by Shirley Laundry of Belleville, and an EASTERN BLUEBIRD'S nest by Cliff Mclean of Roslin. Terry Sprague Prince Edward County [EMAIL PROTECTED] www.naturestuff.net _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list [email protected] For instructions to join or leave ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdssetup.php ONTBIRDS Guidelines may be viewed at http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdsguide.php
