WEEKLY BIRD REPORT FROM PRINCE EDWARD COUNTY AND THE QUINTE AREA FOR THE WEEK ENDING Thursday, August 28, 2008
An interesting mix of birds this week, with some migrating, some still feeding young, and others showing renewed interest in the bird feeder. At Lakeshore Lodge Road on Monday evening, a HOUSE WREN was seen carrying food to a nest, while in the distance, 2 migrating LEAST SANDPIPERS were seen running along the beach at Sandbanks Provincial Park. An early BUFFLEHEAD flew by one person along the Sandbanks shoreline on August 26th. SOLITARY SANDPIPERS were observed at Jackson's Falls and Waupoos, with two birds seen in each case. A GREAT EGRET was feeding in the marsh at Pleasant Bay on the 25th and 26th, and a SANDHILL CRANE was spotted at South Bay on August 19th. By contrast, a WHIP-POOR-WILL was displaying a classic case of autumnal recrudescence as it called non stop in the Tweed area on the 25th. And along the County's Ridge Road, a flock of at least 150 CEDAR WAXWINGS showed up At Prince Edward Point National Wildlife Area, two RED-NECKED GREBES that flew south on the 25th were the first of the fall, DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS are building up and up to 4000 are roosting on the shoal now. Three GREEN HERONS were seen on the south shore on the 23rd. Waterfowl numbers around the harbour are slowly building up and up to 150 MALLARDS and 5 AMERICAN BLACK DUCKS are present along with the occasional BLUE-WINGED TEAL. A LESSER SCAUP was also present on the 25th and the first RED-BREASTED MERGANSER of the fall flew past on the 24th. A few raptors have also been moving and on the 26th the following were seen - 6 SHARP-SHINNED HAWKS, 2 COOPER'S HAWKS, 5 BROAD-WINGED HAWKS and a MERLIN, and while not huge numbers, they do indicate that birds are starting to move south. Shorebirds are still few and far between but SPOTTED SANDPIPERS can usually be found around the beaches, Two LEAST SANDPIPERS flew past on the 25th and 3 BAIRD'S SANDPIPERS were on the shingle beach on the 27th. BONAPARTE'S GULLS are building up offshore and 150 were seen on the 26th. Four COMMON NIGHTHAWKS were counted on the 27th but little migration of this species has been noted so far. A WHIP-POOR-WILL was trapped on the 27th. RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD numbers appear down and a maximum of only four in a day have been seen so far at the Observatory. Flycatchers are still moving and most of the common species can be found with a bit of searching around the bushes. A trip into Picton on the afternoon of Friday the 22nd saw at least 200 EASTERN KINGBIRDS between the Point and Picton along with at least 150 GIANT SWALLOWTAIL BUTTERFLIES. An OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER was also observed that day feeding from the wires near the Milford dump and just metres down the road from a COMMON RAVEN. Back at the Point, RED-EYED VIREOS are starting to move and up to 6 have been seen in a day, VEERIES were trapped on the 25th and 26th, and a SWAINSON'S THRUSH was also banded on the 25th. CEDAR WAXWINGS are still plentiful. Eighteen species of warblers were seen during the week, a TENNESSEE WARBLER was found on the 24th, up to 6 NASHVILLE WARBLERS have been present and MAGNOLIA WARBLERS are slowly increasing. Seven BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLERS were seen on the 25th, the first YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER of the fall was seen on the 26th the day after the first BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER was seen. BLACKBURNIAN WARBLERS are being seen and the first BLACKPOLL WARBLER was in the trees behind the Observatory on the 26th. WILSON'S WARBLERS are another species that are increasing as the season progresses and up to five are being seen in a day. A CLAY-COLORED SPARROW on the 26th was the first trapped in the fall for 4 years. BOBOLINKS continue to be seen in good numbers and 106 have been banded so far this fall. The GIANT SWALLOWTAIL eggs around the Observatory are starting to hatch. A PILEATED WOODPECKER was seen in the Consecon Lake area, a reminder that local operators of bird feeding stations may expect a visit from one of these huge woodpeckers this winter. One was even reported taking huge globs of suet from a feeder this summer, likely as food for its young. RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRDS are still visiting nectar feeders across the region and are likely to continue doing so for a few more weeks. Flycatchers noted during the week included an EASTERN WOOD-PEWEE at Sandbanks on the 25th, and GREAT CRESTED FLYCATCHER and EASTERN PHOEBE at Waupoos. And certainly no absence of GIANT SWALLOWTAILS this week either ! And that's it for this week from Prince Edward County and the Quinte area. Our thanks to David Okines, Kathleen Rankine, Dave Bell, Sharon Channell, John Foster, Janet Mooney, John & Margaret Moore, Rosemary Smith, Susan Howlett, John Charlton, Joanne Dewey, Donn Legate and Laura Pierce for their contributions to this week's report. This report will be updated on Thursday, September 4th, 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 apt to either offend or amuse and that's all I am going to say about it. Photos in the online edition of the Quinte Area Bird Report are of a male ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK and a juvenile by Carol Perlberg, and a CEDAR WAXWING by Donna Fano. Terry Sprague Prince Edward County [EMAIL PROTECTED] www.naturestuff.net _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. 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