Report from the Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory for the week of
September 10-16, courtesy of manager David Okines.
The three MUTE SWANS that were seen offshore on the 10th are rare at the
Point and one off only a small handful of records for this species. The weed
has returned to the entrance of the harbour and with it 90+ MALLARDS and up
to 80 CANADA GEESE, mixed in with those MALLARDS have been up to 10 AMERICAN
BLACK DUCKS. A merganser species was seen briefly on the 16th but no other
duck species were seen this week. The winds on the 13th/14th and 15th caused
a few raptors to move with up to 180 SHARP-SHINNED HAWKS a day going over,
13 BALD EAGLES of mixed ages went out over the lake on the 13th, and
BROAD-WINGED HAWKS peaked at just 12 on the 13th. Ten or fewer AMERICAN
KESTRELS, COOPER'S HAWKS and NORTHERN HARRIERS were also seen; the 15th saw
10 MERLINS including one that flew into a net. The only shorebird this week
was a single SEMIPALMATED PLOVER on the beach on the 13th. BONAPARTE'S GULLS
have increased a bit with up to 25 a day seen fishing offshore.
Occasional RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRDS are still seen coming to the feeders.
NORTHERN FLICKERS are starting to move and peaked at 12 on the 15th.
Flycatchers rarely numbered more than one each of the regular species in a
day this week. BLUE-HEADED VIREOS are starting to trickle through and 8 were
noted on the 15th, a late WARBLING VIREO was trapped on the 15th and 5
PHILADELPHIA VIREOS were seen on the 11th, RED-EYED VIREOS continue to be
seen in reasonable numbers with up to 18 a day being counted. BLUE JAYS have
started their fall migration and on the 13th 250 were seen flying over in
groups of 35 or fewer. COMMON RAVENS are still being seen early on most
mornings and are usually heard before being seen.
A TREE SWALLOW on the 10th and BARN SWALLOWS to the 12th are the only
members of that family this week. This year is looking good for a
RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH movement with a peak of 20 seen on the 15th. BROWN
CREEPERS are becoming more regular but still in only small numbers. Fall is
officially here; the first RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET arrived on the 10th with
GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS trailing them by only one day, GOLDEN-CROWNEDS
peaked this week at 20 on the 15th. SWAINSON'S THRUSHES numbered 30 on the
111th with most other days this week having 10 - 15 seen, GRAY-CHEEKED
THRUSHES have also started moving but only 1-4 a day are being seen so far.
A spotty juvenile HERMIT THRUSH was banded on the 15th. On the beach on the
15th there was the first AMERICAN PIPIT of the fall.
Eighteen species of warblers were seen this week. An ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER
on the 16th was new for the fall, 5 NORTHERN PARULAS were seen on the 11th
and 15th and MAGNOLIA WARBLERS numbered 35 on those days as well. Two CAPE
MAYS put in an appearance in the nets on the 11th. BLACK-THROATED BLUES
numbered 18 on the 15th. YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS have been seen in ones and
twos all week while BLACKPOLLS numbered 50 on the 11th and up to 25 on most
other days. AMERICAN REDSTARTS numbered 20 on the 13th and 1-3 OVENBIRDS are
being seen most days.
A SCARLET TANAGER flew over on the 15th. Other notable birds of the fall
included 1-3 WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS that are being seen daily and up to 4
DARK-EYED JUNCOS. Six ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAKS were noted on the 15th. A
small handful of PURPLE FINCHES have been visiting the feeders. Lastly, a
WHITE-WINGED DOVE was seen and photographed just up the road from the
Observatory on the 13th but unfortunately it was not re-found. This is the
second Observatory record.
Elsewhere in Prince Edward County, the two SANDHILL CRANES continue to
forage in a large field along County Road 15, just north of Demorestville.
For more sightings, be sure to check out the Quinte Area Bird Report on the
Main Birding page at www.naturestuff.net.
Terry Sprague
Prince Edward County
[email protected]
.............................................................
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Terry Sprague
23 Sprague Road
R.R. 1, Demorestville, ON K0K 1W0
613-476-5072 (home), 613-848-4549 (cell)
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