WEEKLY BIRD REPORT FROM PRINCE EDWARD COUNTY AND THE QUINTE AREA FOR THE WEEK ENDING Thursday, August 21, 2008
The patter of little feet on a cottage roof at McMahon's Bluff last week became loud enough to generate some curiosity from a resident who, upon investigating, was startled to find a BALD EAGLE consuming its meal above her head as she stepped out the door to investigate. It was one of several BALD EAGLE reports to come in during the week, involving both adult birds and immatures. Although not on a roof, a RED-TAILED HAWK along Green Point Road at the Quinte Skyway Bridge was close enough to afford an excellent view of the bird as the residents watched from a back verandah. The hawk remained in a backyard crabapple tree for 15 minutes, then flew off to a nearby black walnut tree. Signs that the fall migration is underway was reflected in a few sightings that came in across the region, including 6 COMMON NIGHTHAWKS flying over the Herchimer Street boat launch in Belleville on the 16th. At Waupoos, YELLOW WARBLERS, PINE WARBLER and a WILSON'S WARBLER were all seen on the 19th, and a WHIMBREL on the 16th at Prince Edward Point. However, to really take in the fall migration, Prince Edward Point is the place to be. The banding season officially started on Saturday. Two COMMON LOONS flew over that day and GREAT BLUE HERONS can usually be seen fishing in the harbour. There are still some young MALLARDS being accompanied by their mother in the harbour. A young female COOPER'S HAWK puts in an almost daily appearance and a SHARP-SHINNED HAWK was seen on the 16th. A MERLIN was trapped on the 21st and is only the second one banded here, the flock of BOBOLINKS it was chasing went over the net and dropped into the bushes but the MERLIN dove low and hit the net. SHOREBIRDS have been few but a SEMIPALMATED PLOVER was on the beach on the 19th and 2 SOLITARY SANDPIPERS were feeding in the harbour on the 16th, and an AMERICAN WOODCOCK was flushed from the path on the 19th.Young BLACK-BILLED CUCKOOS are being seen daily suggesting that they bred here again. COMMON NIGHTHAWKS are starting to move with 2 being seen on the 15th and 3 on the 20th. An OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER was in the area on the 16th while most of the other regular flycatcher species are being seen daily but only in small numbers apart from EASTERN KINGBIRDS that have increased to around 15 present. The RED-EYED VIREOS being seen are suspected of being local birds as they are in moult. The CLIFF SWALLOWS that nested on the lighthouse still had young in the nest on the 19th and AMERICAN ROBINS were feeding young in the nest until just a few days ago. RED and WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCHES are occasionally being seen and a few moulting SWAINSON'S and HERMIT THRUSHES are being found. In the fields. CEDAR WAXWING numbers have built up to about 150. WARBLERS are starting to migrate with 16 species being seen during the week, and they include a CAPE MAY WARBLER on the 16th, BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLERS on the 20th, a YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER on the 18th, a BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER on the 16th, MOURNING WARBLERS on the 15th and 16th and a WILSON'S WARBLER on the 16th. A CLAY-COLORED SPARROW was seen on the 21st but few other sparrows are being seen. An INDIGO BUNTING was found on the 17th, and in sharp contrast to last year's multitude, only 2 PURPLE FINCHES have been seen so far. BOBOLINKS are being seen in good numbers with 57 trapped to date. Away from Prince Edward Point, a remote, but extremely productive wetland along the Millennium Trail off Danforth Road west of Wellington, continues to produce surprises, and during the week, from 8 to 10 GREAT EGRETS were present. A very cooperative LEAST BITTERN remained poised in the open at Beaver Meadow Wildlife Management Area long enough for a series of photos, one of which is featured in the online edition of this report, as well as highlighting the Main Birding page of the NatureStuff website. Two COMMON RAVENS were present along Green Point Road during the week, and a BROWN THRASHER has been present for several weeks in a Waupoos backyard where there has also been a YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER. The Tuftsville wetlands at Stirling produced an unusual convocation of 10 BELTED KINGFISHERS, to complement a family of young COMMON MOORHENS, BLUE-WINGED TEALS, and a GREEN HERON that were also present this week. A good number of EASTERN KINGBIRDS, CEDAR WAXWINGS, EASTERN WOOD-PEWEE, RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS, AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES, OSPREY and INDIGO BUNTINGS were also reported from this same area. In other wildlife news this week, one observer visiting Prince Edward County counted 31 GIANT SWALLOWTAILS, 28 of which were found at Prince Edward Point, a species that seems to have done very well in the Quinte area since first appearing last year, reports still coming in from as far north as the Highway 7 area. On the 16th, one was seen egg laying at Prince Edward Point. Eleven CITRINE FORKTAILS were found by the same observer at both Prince Edward Point and Sandbanks, along with 2 WANDERING GLIDERS and a SPOT-WINGED GLIDER. There were lots of GIANT SWALLOWTAILS and VICEROY BUTTERFLIES at the Danforth Road wetland. And that's it for this week from Prince Edward County and the Quinte area. Our thanks to David Okines, John Blaney, Bruce Ripley, Kathy Felkar, Laura Pierce, Evelyn & Doug Sloane, John & Janet Foster, Cathie Stewart, John & Margaret Moore, Gloria Durell, Heather Heron, Mike Carmody, and Kathy McPherson for their contributions to this week's report. This report will be updated on Thursday, August 28th, but sightings can be e-mailed any time before the Wednesday night deadline. Feature photo on the Main Birding Page of the NatureStuff website is a LEAST BITTERN, taken at Beaver Meadow Wildlife Management Area at East Lake by Peter Sporring. Photos in the online edition of the Quinte Area Bird Report include another LEAST BITTERN photo by Peter Sporring, and a CITRINE FORKTAIL by Bruce Ripley. Terry Sprague Prince Edward County [EMAIL PROTECTED] _______________________________________________ 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
