WEEKLY BIRD REPORT FOR PRINCE EDWARD COUNTY AND THE QUINTE AREA FOR THE WEEK ENDING Thursday, August 20, 2009
The Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory opened on the 15th and birds have already started to move. Turkey Vultures (22) flew over on the 19th, and 1 -3 bald eagles are being seen most days. Sharp-shinned hawks have also been patrolling the point and a cooper's hawk was seen on the 17th along with 3 american kestrels. Mallards are starting to increase in the harbour peaking at 38 on the 20th with a blue-winged teal putting in an appearance on the 17th. A killdeer was found on the 19th and spotted sandpipers are being seen daily. Three to five ruby-throated hummingbirds are visiting the feeder at the Observatory every day and a black-billed cuckoo was banded on the 19th. Small numbers of flycatchers are trickling through and 6 species have been seen so far. Warbling and red-eyed vireos are being seen but are probably local birds. Purple martin numbers are good this fall with several being seen daily and peaking at 28 on the 19th. Barn Swallows were moving earlier in the week and up to 110 a day have been going over. House wrens still have some young in a nest box. GrAy catbirds are also being seen in small numbers and up to 50 cedar waxwings a day are being counted. Warblers have started to migrate and 9 species have been recorded so far including Magnolia, Blackburnians, Black and whites, American redstarts, two Mournings and four canadas. Two Northern cardinals were seen on the 16th. Bobolinks are moving in good numbers and 124 have been banded so far this fall with a peak of 60 birds seen on the 19th. Occasional Baltimore orioles are being seen and a few purple finches are visiting the feeders. GREAT EGRET numbers at the wetland along County Road 14 between Crofton and Demorestville, have dwindled in numbers and no more than two have turned up most days this past week along with GREAT BLUE HERONS, MALLARDS and CANADA GEESE. The Canadian Wildlife Service banded over 300 GREAT EGRETS at four separate sites this summer, and readers are reminded to check out any egrets they see for the presence of red leg bands bearing white letters and numbers. Information, including date and where observed can be sent to me at the e-mail address below and I will be pleased to forward this information on to Chip Weseloh. There was also a PEREGRINE FALCON seen on August 18th, flying appropriately enough, over the airfield at Mountain View Airport along Highway 62 . Just a short distance, as the hawk flies, NORTHERN HARRIER was one of many species seen by a kayaker in the Horse Point and Grave Island area at the mouth of Sawguin Creek in the Bay of Quinte. GREEN HERON, VIRGINIA RAIL, SEDGE WREN, COMMON TERNS, OSPREY (3), SPOTTED SANDPIPER (6), BELTED KINGFISHER (4), and EASTERN KINGBIRD (4) were just a few of the highlights for this paddler's adventure yesterday. The Beaver Meadow mudflats continue to be a disappointment, but for those eager to see a KILLDEER, this was definitely the place to go this week with one observer counting over 150 feeding in the wetland that has had a drawdown. SCARLET TANAGER was seen in the adjacent deciduous woods. While the fall migration of warblers is more obvious at Prince Edward Point, there have been a few warblers seen here and there around the county including a PINE WARBLER in a backyard at 2800 County Road 1, BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER along Sprague Road, and AMERICAN REDSTARTS along the Millennium Trail at Palmer-Burris Road, probably all local breeding birds, but creating some excitement just the same as the fall migration gets under way. Although out of the Quinte/Prince Edward County reporting area, some excitement happening at Frontenac Park on the 15th and 16th with small feeding flocks noted, involving RED-EYED VIREOS, SCARLET TANAGER, BALTIMORE ORIOLES, BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLERS, YELLOW-THROATED VIREO, NORTHERN FLICKER and one RED-SHOULDERED HAWK. In local backyards, a bit of activity there too with several reporting young BALTIMORE ORIOLES, ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAKS and BLUE JAYS heading the list of feeder visitors as we inch our way even closer to the start of the winter feeder season. A BALTIMORE ORIOLE was visiting a hummingbird feeder this week, just south of Picton. Residents on the west side of Picton took a young CEDAR WAXING under their wing for several days when it became apparent that no adults were about, an once it was suitably fattened up on offerings of berries, became absorbed in a visiting flock of waxwings and disappeared. Lots of WILD TURKEY action along Highway 14 in the Oak Hills area, south of Stirling, with numerous birds feeding in the ditches, despite the heavy traffic. At the Hastings Plowing Match along Harmony Road today, an AMERICAN BITTERN flew nonchalantly at low level over the tents, displays and farm machinery as it headed for Bronk Road. And that's it for this week from Prince Edward County and the Quinte area. Our thanks to David Okines of the Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory, Lyle Anderson, Brock Burr, Chip Weseloh, Mike Burge & Kathy Felkar, David Bree, Nancy Fox, Cathie Stewart, Ove Ojaste & Mary-Ann Caswell, and Heather Heron for their contributions to this week's report. This report will be updated on Thursday, August 27th, 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 of an INDIGO BUNTING at a water garden along Fry Road. Photos in the online edition of the Quinte Area Bird Report of a RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD at a feeder and a KILLDEER at a mudflat are by Borys Holowacz and Adam Penson 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 information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
