WEEKLY BIRD REPORT FROM PRINCE EDWARD COUNTY AND THE QUINTE AREA FOR THE WEEK ENDING Thursday, June 12, 2008
This is the time of the year when finding birds often depends on a bionic ear and a keen knowledge of bird song when few during the nesting season are advertising their presence. Although often frowned upon by purists, the tape or CD player is usually a good way to lure some birds into the open, provided it is not done for extended periods of time as this practice can result in the nest becoming prone to predators, while birds are absent. Up to four VIRGINIA RAILS literally ran across the feet of observers last evening along the marsh boardwalk at the H.R. Frink Centre at Plainfield as they responded to a recording being played briefly there. One agitated bird actually approached the source of the song and pecked a couple of times at the machine. Also present in the marsh at this location were MARSH WRENS, RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS, SWAMP SPARROWS, and in the white cedar forest, a VEERY called. At least two CLAY-COLORED SPARROWS were heard singing from a field of red cedars near the corner of Welbanks Road and Kelly Road Tuesday. Finding this species usually requires birders to chase them around the county every year as habitat gradually becomes unsuitable for nesting. Finely tuned ears also picked up two LEAST BITTERNS calling in the distance at a wetland located beside the Millennium Trail at Danforth Road west of Wellington Tuesday. Also present, several BLACK TERNS and MARSH WRENS. CASPIAN TERNS were present at Sandbanks Provincial Park the same day, and in the plantation area, numerous PINE WARBLERS were heard singing, and an INDIGO BUNTING was seen pouring out its goldfinch-like notes. AMERICAN REDSTARTS can be heard singing from a number of locations in the county right now, and a WILLOW FLYCATCHER was seen and heard singing along Gravelley Bay Road near Prince Edward Pointon Tuesday. A lone WHITE-WINGED SCOTER, probably sick, was swimming offshore out from the lighthouse at the Point, and CLIFF SWALLOWS are still actively nesting under the eaves of that structure, as well as at the Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory. Another small colony can be found nesting along the Point Traverse cliffs this season. At this time of the year, it is a case of randomly stopping at locations that seem to offer possibilities, and waiting with ears cocked. This proved successful along Marisette Road Tuesday when a distant VESPER SPARROW was heard singing. A chance step outside earlier in the week at Sprague Road resulted in 2 LONG-EARED OWLS being heard calling a field away. A COMMON NIGHTHAWK passed in front of car on Doxsee Road last night. Elsewhere, more concerted efforts produces different results. The Brighton Wetlands on Friday produced a BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON for one observer. Even backyards can produce some interesting, and sometimes amusing, observations. One Green Point Road resident watched in amusement this week as a HOUSE WREN struggled valiantly, albeit ignominously, with a 15-inch piece of straw as it attempted to coax it into the spout of a kettle, sideways. The spout formed the entrance to its nest, contained within the kettle that was located on a fence post. One local resident had his Disney impression of animals lovingly looking after each other quashed after spotting two RED SQUIRRELS along the road near Cressy. One had been run over, and he assumed that the second squirrel was offering sympathy, if not first aid. When he returned, he noted that the survivor was actually gnawing at the corpse's leg. Only in the County, you say? Other observations during the week took on a more sane atmosphere. Numerous residents still have BALTIMORE ORIOLES feasting at nectar feeders, and along Ridge Road, a resident there also has ORCHARD ORIOLES among the clientel. PURPLE FINCHES are at feeders in Thurlow north of Belleville, and along Victoria Road in the west part of the county. Beaver Meadow Wildlife Management Area at East Lake is always sure not to disappoint, although high water levels require visitors to perform some fancy footwork along the trail to avoid the low areas. The effort will produce WOOD DUCKS, RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER, GREAT CRESTED FLYCATCHER, GREAT BLUE HERON, OSPREY, ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK, VEERY, WOOD THRUSH and both WARBLING and RED-EYED VIREO, all of which were present on Tuesday. Although some distance from the general reporting area, a piece of property north of Tamworth on Sunday produced a plethora of birds including several CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLERS, AMERICAN REDSTARTS, YELLOW WARBLERS, OVENBIRDS as well as SCARLET TANAGER, GREAT CRESTED FLYCATCHER, COMMON YELLOWTHROATS and both BLACK-THROATED BLUE and BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER. The biggest surprise was a BLACK BEAR that spotted us at the same time we spotted it only a few feet ahead of us, taking off on thundering feet and disappearing over a ridge. And that's it for this week from Prince Edward County and the Quinte area for this week. Our thanks to Donna Fano, John Charlton, Jeffrey Territo, Henri Garand, Evelyn Sloane, Fiona King, Doris Lane, Suzanne Pierson, Angela Mantle and Donn Legate for their contributions to this week's report. This report will be updated on Thursday, June 19th, but sightings can be e-mailed any time before the Wednesday night deadline. Featured photo on the Main Birding Page is by the author and shows the VIRGINIA RAIL approaching our tape recorder at the H.R. Frink Centre. Photos in the online edition of the Quinte Area Bird Report are of a BLACK TERN at the Frink Centre and CASPIAN TERNS at Sandbanks, and are by Jeremy Patenaude and Heather Fraser-Kirby respectively. 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
