REPORT FROM PRINCE EDWARD POINT, courtesy of David Okines
Occasional COMMON LOONS are now being seen flying over. A GREAT BLUE HERON has been seen a few times in the harbour and was joined this week by GREEN HERON on the 11th, 13th and 14th. TURKEY VULTURES are increasing and peaked at 35 on the 15th. In the harbour, the 20-30 MALLARDS were joined by others on the 11th when 100 were noted. CANADA GEESE also increased this week with 100 noted on the 14th. BALD EAGLES have been seen almost daily and a NORTHERN HARRIER has been floating about the point all week. SHARP-SHINNED HAWKS have increased to up to 35 daily and a RED-SHOULDERED HAWK flew over with a few BROAD-WINGED HAWKS on the 11th. MERLINS continue to harass the migrants over the area. Two BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS flew over on the 13th and the first KILLDEER of the fall was on the beach on the 11th. Up to 11 SANDERLINGS were on the beach during the first half of the week but have now gone. One to three RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRDS are still being seen most days and 2 BELTED KINGFISHERS are frequenting the harbour. NORTHERN FLICKERS have started moving and up to 8 a day are being seen. YELLOW-BELLIED, LEAST and TRAILL’S FLYCATCHERS are still to be found in low numbers and a late EASTERN KINGBIRD was seen on the 15th. BLUE-HEADED VIREOS are becoming more common and the occasional WARBLING and PHILADELPHIA VIREO are still being observed. RED-EYED VIREOS numbered 23 on the 11th. BLUE JAYS have started migrating and up to 250 a day have been seen since the 13th. BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEES are increasing with up to 15 a day being noted. A RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH was seen on the 12th and the first BROWN CREEPERS of the fall arrived on the 14th, the same day as the first WINTER WRENS (6) arrived. RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS arrived on the 11th when at least 8 were present. Thrushes also started moving this week with high counts on the 14th of 25 GRAY-CHEEKED and 20 SWAINSON’S. A HERMIT THRUSH was seen on the 10th and a WOOD THRUSH was seen near the lighthouse on the 14th. Twenty-five species of warblers were seen during the week. A GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLER that was trapped on the 12th is only the 3rd ever banded in the fall. NASHVILLE WARBLERS peaked at 25 on the 9th and 1-2 NORTHERN PARULAS are being seen most days. MAGNOLIA WARBLERS (70) were recorded on three dates and a CAPE MAY WARBLER was seen on the 10th. BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLERS numbered 35 on the 9th and BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLERS have picked up a bit with a peak of 15, also on the 9th. A PINE WARBLER on the 10th was new for the fall. BLACKPOLL WARBLERS have increased and 100 were noted on the 10th with 40 or so being seen on most other days. AMERICAN REDSTARTS numbered 40 on the 10th with up to 20 on all other dates. A late MOURNING WARBLER was trapped on the 12th and WILSON’S WARBLERS have been obvious this week with a peak of 22 on the 11th. CANADA WARBLERS continue their good run with three banded during the week. Bird of the week was a CONNECTICUT WARBLER that was banded on the 11th, only the 5th ever banded in the fall. One to two SCARLET TANAGERS are being seen most days and the first WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS of the fall were seen on the 14th.An INDIGO BUNTING was trapped on the 9th and it looks as though the BOBOLINKS have finished for the fall. Two RUSTY BLACKBIRDS flew over on the 10th, as did the first RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD of the fall. AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES are becoming commoner with up to 120 a day being seen. To reach Prince Edward Point, follow County Road 13 from South Bay for 17 kilometres. The network of birding trails in the Point Traverse Woods have been mowed and groomed for the fall season. The Observatory is just a half kilometre past the Point Traverse corner. Terry Sprague [email protected] www.naturestuff.net _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to [email protected] For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
