Report from the Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory for the week of October 22-28, courtesy of manager David Okines.
The season is definitely winding down, with fewer and fewer birds being seen in the bushes. A RED-THROATED LOON was seen on the 27th and up to 6 COMMON LOONS have been seen daily. DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS (500) were seen on the 27th, the best total since the beginning of the month. Up to a 1000 GREATER SCAUP can be seen daily off the point and WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS numbered 800 on the 23rd. LONG-TAILED DUCKS are slowly increasing and peaked at 55 on the 27th. Raptors have been fairly quiet this week but a RED-SHOULDERED HAWK was seen on the 22nd. A SPOTTED SANDPIPER spent three days on the beach from the 22nd to the 24th. AMERICAN WOODCOCKS were seen on the 25th and 127th. A small passage of BONAPARTE'S GULLS has been taking place and up to 45 a day have been seen on census. Six GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULLS were present on the 27th. The weather has restricted owl banding during the week and only 34 NORTHERN SAW-WHETS were banded. EASTERN PHOEBES peaked this week at 8 on the 23rd. A NORTHERN SHRIKE was banded on the 26th. BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEES continue to move with peaks of 350 on the 23rd and 260 on the 27th. GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS have started moving again and peaked at 150 on the 26th, RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS have remained slow with a peak of just 35 on the 25th. Two EASTERN BLUEBIRDS were seen on the 28th. HERMIT THRUSHES numbered 30 on the 23rd. AMERICAN ROBINS are continuing to move in good numbers with 1200 on the 27th and several other days having 500 or more going over. A BOHEMIAN WAXWING was seen on the 22nd and CEDAR WAXWINGS have increased as the week went on and peaked at 550 on the 28th. Only two warbler species were seen this week with YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS numbers peaking at 30 on the 25th and a BLACKPOLL WARBLER near the lighthouse on the 27th. FOX SPARROWS are becoming more common and 7 were seen on the 25th. WHITE-THROATED and WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS have both numbered around 8 - 10 all week. DARK-EYED JUNCOS peaked at 35 on the 25th. Three NORTHERN CARDINALS were present on the 27th. Blackbirds continue to move and 1000 RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS were seen on the 27th as were 20 RUSTY BLACKBIRDS. COMMON GRACKLES meanwhile peaked at 3000 on the 25th. PURPLE FINCHES have been increasing with peaks of 70 seen on the 26th and 60 on the 28th. PINE SISKINS are starting to show with 15 seen on the 22nd and 35 being counted the following day. An EVENING GROSBEAK was present on the 22nd and a HOUSE SPARROW appeared briefly on the 27th. There were two birds of the week this week - a WHITE-EYED VIREO that was banded on the 23rd and seen again on the 26th and a BOREAL CHICKADEE that was banded on the 26th. The Observatory will close for the year after banding on the 31st. For more more sightings, be sure to check out the Quinte Area Bird Report on the Main Birding page at www.naturestuff.net. And for more news from the Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory, be sure to visit their website at www.peptbo.ca . Terry Sprague Prince Edward County [email protected] _______________________________________________ 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/
