WEEKLY BIRD REPORT FROM PRINCE EDWARD COUNTY AND THE QUINTE AREA FOR THE WEEK ENDING Thursday, July 03, 2008
As of June 28th, the pair of MOURNING WARBLERS could still be found in the Scot's Pine plantation at Sandbanks Provincial Park's West Lake Sector. While we tend to think of warblers in terms of spring migration only, seen in May, then not again until fall when they migrate south, it is surprising how many do remain in this area to nest. Another MOURNING WARBLER turned up in Cherry Valley. The Trans Canada Trail at Tweed Monday night produced COMMON YELLOWTHROAT and CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER, and there were plenty of COMMON YELLOWTHROATS and an AMERICAN REDSTART calling near a small wetland along Boundary Road at Roslin the same night. At least a half dozen warbler species regularly nest in Prince Edward County, and another half dozen or so species have been observed enough times during the summer months to suggest possible breeding. Finding birds during the summer months is more a case of being in the right place at the right time. A RING-NECKED PHEASANT continues to call early every morning from the south shore of the Big Island Marsh where it has been doing so since early spring. Recently, a motorist came upon the bird wandering the roadside of County Road 15 near the Sophiasburgh Cemetery. Two BALD EAGLES passed over Tripp Road yesterday, and although not as profoundly exciting as the eagles, an AMERICAN KESTREL was seen along Murphy Road at South Bay the same day. VIRGINIA RAILS and occasionally a PIED-BILLED GREBE can be heard most mornings in the Big Island Marsh, and a chance walk past a wetland along the Millennium Trail off Danforth Road west of Wellington last week, produced a COMMON MOORHEN, AMERICAN BITTERNS, BLACK TERNS, SWAMP SPARROWS, MARSH WRENS, COMMON YELLOWTHROATS, GREAT BLUE HERON and VIRGINIA RAILS. This is a great little wetland, far removed from the flow of traffic, and always guaranteed to produce. At least three of the four LEAST BITTERNS that were first noted in mid-May are still present, and can be heard calling at night. A LEAST BITTERN was also heard at a small marsh in Carrying Place, and others turned up in the Stirling area. At a small cattail marsh along George's Road, east of Northport, both an AMERICAN BITTERN and a GREEN HERON have been present this summer. And an encouraging note from one observer, CHIMNEY SWIFTS seem to have made something of a comeback in the Quinte area with individuals seen at Brighton, Trenton, and in Belleville's east end. And that's it for this week from Prince Edward County and the Quinte area. Our tanks to Doris Lane, Janet Foster, John Blaney, Lyle Anderson, Judy Kent, Henri Garand, Beth McPherson, Erin McGaulay and Cathie Stewart for their contributions to this week's report. This report will be updated on Thursday, July 10th, but sightings can be e-mailed anytime before the Wednesday night deadline. Feature photo on the Main Birding Page of the NatureStuff website by Dave Bell of Belleville is a late evening silhouette of a TREE SWALLOW as it contemplates the journey south. Photos in the online edition of the Quinte Area Bird Report is of the RING-NECKED PHEASANT along County Road 15, taken by Henri Garand of Big Island, and an all revved up AMERICAN REDSTART, taken by Mike Carmody of Tweed. 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
