The Prince Edward County Birding Festival is running from today, May 8th to Sunday, May 16th. Details at www.peptbo.ca
Despite predicted gale force winds and horizontal rain, this morning in the Point Traverse Woods at Prince Edward Point where daily 8:00 a.m. guided bird walks are taking place, started out under relatively calm conditions and misty rain. Twelve species of warblers were present with NORTHERN PARULA, YELLOW, YELLOW-RUMPED, BLACK-THROATED GREEN and BLACK-AND-WHITE being the most common. Other birds in the total of 49 species seen in the Point Traverse Woods included BLUE-HEADED VIREO, WILLOW FLYCATCHER, WOOD THRUSH and VEERY. By 10:00 a.m., winds had picked up significantly with the clearing skies, but birding was still good in a few rare protected areas where pockets of warblers could be found. Out in Prince Edward Bay where an Essroc Cement boat had wisely decided to seek shelter from the increasing winds, a scattering of LONG-TAILED DUCKS could be seen in amongst the rollers, and two pairs of COMMON MERGANSERS, caught up in a fierce tail wind shot past us like bullets. To reach Prince Edward Point National Wildlife Area, take Main Street from the east end of downtown Picton, down the "Town Hill", and turn immediately right onto Union Street (directly across from Tip of the Bay Motel). Follow Union Street out of Picton (becomes County Road 8) for 2.5 km, and at the junction in the highway, follow County Road 17. Take County Road 17 for 6.5 km and look for the Black River Cheese sign, and turn left onto County Road 16 and follow for 1 km to the Stop sign at County Road 13. Follow County Road 13 past Black River Cheese for 23.6 km to the Prince Edward Point National Wildlife Area (County Road 13 eventually becomes Long Point Road). Follow Long Point Road until you begin passing the Point Traverse Woods and trails on the left and the Observatory a half kilometre farther along. Terry Sprague [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/
