WEEKLY BIRD REPORT FROM PRINCE EDWARD COUNTY AND THE QUINTE AREA FOR THE WEEK ENDING Thursday. January 01, 2009
Happy New Year everyone ! A mixed bag of weather since the last report with high winds and rain and record gusts of 119 km/h being reported at Point Petre, and winds so strong along Adolphus Reach that water was picked up and blown along as icy spume with the prevailing winds. Recent colder temperatures didn't deter EASTERN BLUEBIRDS that were seen in two different areas, both in groups of four each. One group of four turned up along Mitchells Crossroad south of Picton where this species often appears in winter, and another group of four was seen north of Shannonville, just south of Melrose Road on Lazier Road. Other EASTERN BLUEBIRDS during the week were seen on Fry Road. Other out of season sightings included a BROWN CREEPER at Bayside, a GREAT BLUE HERON Along Gorsline Road in Prince Edward County on the 28th, 30 RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS south of Bloomfield, and WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS (three on Sprague Road with one at a feeder), and one at Bayside where a SONG SPARROW also was seen and another WHITE-THROATED SPARROW at a Belleville feeder. Three WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS were also tallied on the Belleville Christmas Bird Count December 27th. While it might not have been one of the worst days for visibility, it certainly rated among the top two. Heavy fog and occasional showers persisted for the entire day, but one party along Huff's Island Road scared up over 200 AMERICAN ROBINS roosting in a deciduous woods at the edge of a marsh. Despite the mild temperatures that day, ice in the Bay of Quinte persisted and the only waterfowl recorded were those that could be found in the Moira River, including a handful of CANADA GEESE, COMMON GOLDENEYE and 50 MALLARDS. Total species seen amounted to 47 and while numbers of observed species was low for most, the count resulted in new highs for NORTHERN CARDINAL with 62 being tallied, likely because they were the one species that could be seen clearly enough through the veil of mist. Three SONG SPARROWS, a SWAMP SPARROW, 2 YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS, 9 GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS, a WINTER WREN, COMMON RAVEN, 2 NORTHERN FLICKERS, 2 RED-BELLIED WOODPECKERS, 3 MERLINS and a NORTHERN GOSHAWK were also noteworthy "sightings" during the day. Prince Edward County continues to get a handle on the number of BALD EAGLES currently wintering in the area, given their penchant for roaming the shorelines. Five were seen soaring on the thermals of the escarpment east of Lake-on-the-Mountain on the 31st, among them two adults. The adults were performing "synchronized flying" reminding the observer of a swim team or a ballet pas de deux. Two of the immature birds were interacting in the air. Several BALD EAGLES are being seen regularly along this stretch of Adolphus Reach between Glenora Ferry and Prinyer's Cove, involving both adult birds and immatures. They have also been ranging in the Prince Edward Bay and South Bay areas, but are less commonly seen west of there with an individual flying just above Highway 33 from about Hubb's Creek Road to Huyck's Point Road on Boxing Day being an exception. Also difficult is establishing how many SNOWY OWLS observers are dealing with in the County this winter as they have appeared pretty much across the region, but may be involving some of the same birds. One seen at Prince Edward Bay on the 31st could possibly be one of at least five that have been noted on nearby Amherst Island. Owls continue to lure observers over to this island where last week LONG-EARED OWLS, SHORT- EARED OWLS, NORTHERN-SAW-WHET OWLS and at least one BOREAL OWL were among the raptors being encountered this winter on the island. AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES are still maintaining good numbers at many feeders across the region with 50 at a Cape Vesey feeder and 20 at a Tripp Road feeder representing two of the higher totals reported this week. Six DOWNY WOODPECKERS at a feeder in Trenton, and 5 NORTHERN CARDINALS west of Trenton are also good totals given the lack of snow in the area this past week. A single COMMON REDPOLL showed up at a South Bay feeder on the 31st, and another at a feeder along Fry Road where 2 PINE SISKINS also appeared during the week . And what would a bird feeder be without at least a few EUROPEAN STARLINGS? Hundreds were swirling "like reef fish" over a house in the Consecon Lake area this week and high numbers were also noted at Big Island and the Picton area during the week. And just to prove that birders in Prince Edward County let nothing go to waste, one of those starlings was seen near Consecon Lake feasting on a Christmas turkey carcass swinging from a backyard clothes line! Waterfowl this past week was once again where you could find open water and shelter from the wind. Adolphus Reach seemed to be the best bet where upwards of 300 COMMON MERGANSERS, 50 COMMON GOLDENEYES and an undetermined number of MALLARDS, LONG-TAILED DUCKS and CANADA GEESE were noted during the week by two observers. Right now, the more sheltered waters of the Outlet River at its head waters at Log Cabin Point is a good spot to get a full complement of all three swan species. On the 24th, there were 2 TRUMPETER SWANS, 2 TUNDRA SWANS and numerous MUTE SWANS observed from the Glendon Green boat launch off County Road 18. Other good sightings during the week included 8 PINE GROSBEAKS at the H.R. Frink Centre, 2 NORTHERN SHRIKES on Babylon Road, 2 RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES and a GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET at Sandbanks, PILEATED WOODPECKER at Adolphustown , 2 NORTHERN HARRIERS at Huff's Island and Big Island Marsh, and singles of COMMON RAVENS at Huff's Island and Royal Road in the County, and at Trenton. Probably the best sighting of the week came in just moments before this report went to press, involving a GREAT GRAY OWL just west of O'Hara Mill Conservation Area, northwest of Madoc. And that's it for this week from Prince Edward County and the Quinte Area. Our thanks to John Blaney, Pamela Stagg, Sacha Clarke-Squair, Paul Thompson, Don Craighead, Mike Burge & Kathy Felkar, Joanne Dewey, Derek Dafoe, Pam Joho, Michele Lintern-Mole, Frank Artes & Carolyn Barnes, Susan Shipman, Donna Fano, Nancy Smits, Fred Chandler, Janet Mooney, Sidney Smith, John Vieira, Henri Garand, Suzanne Pierson & Tom Higginbottom, Doris Lane, Ted Cullin, Paul Taylor and Steve Bolton for their contributions to this week's report. This report will be updated on Thursday, January 8th, but sightings can be e-mailed any time before the Wednesday night deadline. Featured photo this week on the Main Birding Page of the NatureStuff website is a BOREAL OWL, taken on Amherst Island by Susan Shipman of Wellington. Photos in the online edition of the Quinte Area Bird Report include one of about 20 wintering AMERICAN ROBINS at the Frink Centre, taken by Derek Dafoe, and a WHITE-THROATED SPARROW at a feeder in Belleville 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. 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
