WEEKLY BIRD REPORT FROM PRINCE EDWARD COUNTY AND THE QUINTE AREA FOR THE
WEEK ENDING
Thursday, August 27, 2009
First, the news from Prince Edward Point. Although it's not been an over
busy week, its still been interesting down at the Point. An AMERICAN BITTERN
flew over on the 23rd. In the harbour the numbers of MALLARDS are increasing
with a peak of 111 on the 27th. Three BLUE-WINGED TEAL were present on the
21st and up to 3 AMERICAN BLACK DUCKS have been seen. Single OSPREYS flew
over on the 23rd and 26th and BALD EAGLES have been seen twice this week.
The first BROAD-WINGED HAWK went over on the 23rd and a MERLIN has been
present most days.
Single KILLDEERS have been seen twice and the 24th had a SOLITARY SANDPIPER
on the beach, on the 26th a LEAST SANDPIPER joined the resident SPOTTED
SANDPIPERS. A few BONAPARTE'S GULLS went through early in the week peaking
at 12 on the 21st. A ROCK PIGEON (rare at the Point) went over on the 25th.
BLACK-BILLED CUCKOOS can still be seen occasionally with singles on the 23rd
and 27th. COMMON NIGHTHAWKS have started moving and evening counts of 3,25,
10 and 1 have been seen in the last four days.
Flycatchers continue to move with a peak on the 25th of 10 EASTERN
WOOD-PEWEES, 9 YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHERS, 8 TRAILL'S FLYCATCHERS and 9
LEAST SANDPIPERS. EASTERN KINGBIRDS have mostly gone with just two being
seen on most days. RED-EYED VIREOS are starting to move with a peak of 10 on
the 25th. BARN SWALLOWS are the most numerous of the swallow family and up
to 55 have been seen in a day. An early BROWN CREEPER was seen on the 22nd
and 1-4 BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHERS can be seen daily. The first SWAINSON'S
THRUSH appeared on the 26th. One hundred and fifty CEDAR WAXWINGS were
counted on the 21st, but 20-40 are more usual numbers.
NASHVILLE WARBLERS first appeared on the 22nd, as did CHESTNUT-SIDED
WARBLERS. MAGNOLIA WARBLERS are being recorded in small numbers every day
now and a scattering of BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLERS and BLACK-THROATED
GREENS are appearing. BLACKBURNIAN, BLACK-AND-WHITE, and AMERICAN REDSTARTS
are being seen. A PINE WARBLER was seen on the 25th and OVENBIRDS were seen
on the 22nd and 25th. Those dates also had a MOURNING WARBLER trapped. The
first WILSON'S WARBLERS appeared on the 23rd and single CANADA WARBLERS are
being trapped almost daily.
A few ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAKS are being seen. BOBOLINKS continue to move in
good numbers with a total of 228 banded during the week. BALTIMORE ORIOLES
numbered 20 on the 23rd and small numbers of PURPLE FINCHES and AMERICAN
GOLDFINCHES are visiting the feeders daily. Finally a single WHIMBREL flew
over while we were watching nighthawks on the 23rd.
Two members of the Kingston Field Naturalists birding the Point Sunday
reported songbirds in somewhat low numbers, and present in little clusters.
Family groups of BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEES (25) were noted, and about a dozen
FIELD SPARROWS, some feeding young, were also observed. Also present were 12
EASTERN WOOD PEWEES, 2 YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHERS, 12 EASTERN KINGBIRDS, 50
CLIFF SWALLOWS, 3 BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHERS, 6 GRAY CATBIRDS, 15 YELLOW
WARBLERS, 6 COMMON YELLOWTHROATS, and a migrating group of BALTIMORE ORIOLES
that were seen along the tree tops. More than two dozen species were seen by
the duo.
At Horse Point at the mouth of Sawguin Creek in the Bay of Quinte, A
VIRGINIA RAIL continues to be seen, sometimes walking on the lily pads
beside the marsh. MUTE SWANS (7), 2 OSPREYS, 6 BELTED KINGFISHERS, GREEN
HERON, COMMON TERNS and COMMON LOON have also been noted at this prolific
location, reachable only by canoe or kayak.
An EASTERN SCREECH-OWL called enthusiastically in the early hours of August
22nd at 23 Sprague Road. A COMMON NIGHTHAWK was seen at 2800 County Road 1
on Friday, where a RED-TAILED HAWK, and an AMERICAN WOODCOCK also turned
up this past week. A PEREGRINE FALCON was seen along the south shore of
Consecon Lake during the week, and AMERICAN KESTRELS turned up this week at
the Stinson Block west of Consecon harassing a flock of 50 EUROPEAN
STARLINGS, and along County Road 14 near Demorestville, where one has been
present for much of the summer. There was a juvenile BALD EAGLE at Prince
Edward Point on the 24th.
The dunes along West Lake at Sandbanks may appear to be incapable of
producing much to the casual eye, but one observer there on the 23rd noted 2
CHIMNEY SWIFTS, BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER, SANDERLING, SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER
and a lone WHIMBREL. Brought into the Park's Visitor Centre on the 22nd was
a RED-NECKED GREBE, suffering from Botulism, and subsequently taken to the
Sandy Pines Wildlife Centre in Napanee where it is recovering. A single
GREAT EGRET was present in the wetland along County Road 14 near
Demorestville this week, and another was seen near Campbellford on the 22nd.
Throughout the reporting area, large flocks of blackbirds have been
congregating, preparatory to their fall migration, and not to be outdone
have been large numbers of DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS at Muscote Bay. HOUSE
WRENS were seen feeding young at 23 Sprague Road and at 2800 County Road 1,
and a family of RED-BELLIED WOODPECKERS showed up at a feeder at the latter
location as well this week. Lots of PILEATED WOODPECKER reports and still
numerous feeders being frequented by RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRDS.
And that's it for this week from Prince Edward County and the Quinte area.
Our thanks to David Okines, Brock Burr, Mike Carmody, Bruce Ripley, Ron
Weir, Nancy Fox, Joanne Dewey, Fiona King, Janet Foster, Chesia Livingston,
Henri Garand, Janet Mooney, Donald McClure and Ted Cullin for their
contributions to this week's report. This report will be updated on
Thursday, September 3rd, but sightings can be e-mailed any time before the
Wednesday night deadline. Featured photo on the Main Birding Page of the
NatureStuff website this week is a double photo of a YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER
catching and then consuming a flying insect by Adam Penson of Toronto.
Photos in the online edition of the Quinte Area Bird Report are also by Adam
Penson and include a fall plumaged CANADA WARBLER and an AMERICAN REDSTART.
Terry Sprague
Prince Edward County
[email protected]
www.naturestuff.net
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