This is the Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory Report for the week of April 20-26, courtesy of David Okines, bander in charge:
COMMON LOONS continue to be seen daily. A WOOD DUCK was seen on the 20th but the nesting birds are being very secretive. WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS are still offshore and peaked this week at 450 on the 23rd, that day also saw 1300 LONG-TAILED DUCKS moving. BUFFLEHEAD numbers around the lighthouse area are holding steady at around 20 birds but the numbers should start decreasing soon as they move towards their breeding grounds. A pair of NORTHERN HARRIERS can be seen most evenings hunting over the bushes, a SHARP-SHINNED HAWK was seen on the 20th and a MERLIN was seen on the 25th, otherwise few birds of prey are around. The wet and windy weather on the 23rd saw a good movement of BONAPARTE’S GULLS with over 13,300 being counted, many more were probably missed as quite a few went behind the observatory, also observed with them were 59 LITTLE GULLS with the biggest group being 8. The best bird seen with them was a summer plumaged SABINE’S GULL among a group of about 50 BONAPARTE’S and was just metres from the shore. CASPIAN TERNS are becoming more regular and up to 3 a day are now being seen. A BELTED KINGFISHER is being seen almost every other day around the harbour. YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKERS have decreased with only 2-3 females being retrapped every so often. NORTHERN FLICKERS are still being seen along the road edges in good numbers. The only flycatcher apart from the resident EASTERN PHOEBES to be seen this week was a GREAT-CRESTED FLYCATCHER on the 26th. Our first PURPLE MARTINS of the year were seen on the 22nd with the other swallows gradually increasing in the area, the CLIFF SWALLOWS are back on the lighthouse and BARN SWALLOWS have been seen prospecting on the observatory building. BROWN CREEPER numbers are dropping and the HOUSE WRENS are singing energetically. GOLDEN-CROWNED Kinglets have almost finished moving but RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS are moving in good numbers with few females seen so far indicating that there are lots more to come yet. HERMIT THRUSHES are still trickling through and up to four BROWN THRASHERS are now singing. 2 BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS were seen on the 20th and up to 150 CEDAR WAXWINGS are still in the area. YELLOW RUMPED WARBLERS numbered 30 on the 20th and 40 on the 22nd, PINE WARBLERS have also been seen this week and the first Western PALM WARBLER of the spring was banded on the 25th. More species of warblers will probably move this weekend on the fine weather. The only FOX SPARROW this week was a single bird on the 20th. WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS are only being seen in low numbers (less than 10 a day) but should increase soon. Up to 25 DARK-EYED JUNCOS a day are being seen. At least 50 RUSTY BLACKBIRDS were seen on the 22nd, the first HOUSE FINCH of the spring was seen on the 20th and the first PINE SISKINS were noted on the 22nd. In other birding news around Prince Edward County, Kaiser Crossroad continues to host a good variety of waterfowl with at least a half dozen species of ducks present, including over 60 NORTHERN PINTAILS. Elsewhere around the Quinte area, there was a NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD on South Big Island Road, north of Demorestville on the 25th, and a NASHVILLE WARBLER singing at the Belleville Cemetery yesterday. Daily bird sightings can be seen on the Quinte Area Bird Report at www.naturestuff.net . News from the Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory can be seen on their website at www.peptbo.ca . 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/
