This is the Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory report for the week of October 05 to October 11, courtesy of David Okines, Bander in Charge.
Small groups of CANADA GEESE are still moving but no big days have occurred yet, the best day this week was the 7th when 77 went over. A few AMERICAN BLACK DUCKS have been moving with counts of 13 on the 8th, 3 on the 10th and one in the harbour on the 11th. GREATER SCAUP numbered 80 offshore on the 7th. WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS are now being seen daily, albeit in small numbers. TURKEY VULTURES have started to move in earnest high counts of 150 on the 6th and 120 on the 8th. Our semi resident OSPREY finally left on the 5th after having been present for nearly 5 weeks. Raptor migration has continued to be slow with peak counts of 30 SHARP-SHINNED HAWKS on the 6th, a NORTHERN GOSHAWK on the 5th, a RED-SHOULDERED HAWK on the 6th and 21 RED-TAILED HAWKS also on the 6th. PEREGRINE FALCONS were seen on the 5th and 6th. The only shorebird seen this week was a LESSER YELLOWLEGS on the 11th. EASTERN SCREECH OWLS have occasionally been heard while owling and 5 BARRED OWLS were trapped on the 8th. NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWLS continue to move and 300 were banded during the week with peaks of 91 on the night of the 7th/8th and 97 the following night. A RED-HEADED WOODPECKER was banded on the 7th and a RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER was banded on the 5th. A few YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKERS have been around with a peak of 8 on the 7th, although the numbers of them are now starting to drop off. An EASTERN WOOD PEWEE was seen on the 5th and a late LEAST FLYCATCHER was banded on the 7th. BLUE-HEADED VIREOS are still moving and peaked at 45 on the 7th, RED-EYED VIREOS were seen on the 5th and 11th. Single HORNED LARKS flew over on the 5th and 10th. BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEES continue to move through with a peak count of 150 on the 11th, other days have had 50-75 present. RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH numbers are still high with 10-15 being seen daily, WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCHES numbered 10 on the 7th, BROWN CREEPERS continue to trickle through with up to 17 a day being banded. A late HOUSE WREN was banded on the 5th and re-sighted on the 8th. No really big days occurred this week for the kinglets but RUBY-CROWNED peaked at 135 on the 8th and GOLDEN-CROWNED peaked at 90 the same day. A late BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER was photographed in the woods on the 8th. Three EASTERN BLUEBIRDS were present in the evening of the 7th, a single bird was observed on the 10th and 3 were present the next day. GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSHES have almost stopped moving and SWAINSON’S THRUSHES have slowed down. HERMIT THRUSHES on the other hand continue in good numbers with a peak of 50 on the 7th. AMERICAN ROBINS meanwhile are starting to increase with up to 15 a day being seen. Fifteen species of warblers were seen during the week. Interesting warblers during the week were - TENNESSEES on the 6th and 7th, a NORTHERN PARULA on the 10th, a CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER on the 8th, a western PALM WARBLER on the 5th, a yellow PALM WARBLER on the 7th (banded) and a late BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER on the 6th. A late OVENBIRD on the 10th. Best warbler of the week was a very late BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER which was banded on the 11 - the last one seen was back in late August. CHIPPING SPARROWS are increasing and up to 7 a day are being found, FIELD SPARROWS were seen on the 7th to the 9th and a LINCOLN’S SPARROW was found near the harbour on the 6th. The 7th saw a few sparrows moving with peak counts of - WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS 40, WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS 18, DARK-EYED JUNCOS 30. The first NORTHERN CARDINAL of the fall was banded on the 9th. A few flocks of icterids are starting to move with 200 COMMON GRACKLES, 100 RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS and 65 RUSTY BLACKBIRDS being seen on the 11th. PURPLE FINCHES are still plentiful and peaked at 45 on the 7th and 8th. PINE SISKINS numbered 150 on the 7th. PEPTBO has an Owling weekend this weekend (12th/13th) where you are welcome to come down for a few hours in the evening to see some cute little Saw-whets in the hand. We also have our annual dinner and speaker (Ron Tozer) on the 20th in Picton, please see our website for more details (www.peptbo.ca ) Elsewhere around Prince Edward County, seen at Wellington Harbour today, GREEN HERON, several PIED-BILLED GREBES, LESSER YELLOWLEGS, AMERICAN WIGEON and about 30 GREEN-WINGED TEAL. A RED-NECKED GREBE was present just north of Prince Edward Point yesterday. Along Fry Road north of Picton, over 40 PINE SISKINS are coming to a feeder there. The last of the GREAT EGRETS seem to have left Indian Island in the Bay of Quinte across from Trenton. Only 8 were seen there Monday after a high of 78 in late September. Two SANDHILL CRANES were present near Demorestville on the 6th. For birding news around the Prince Edward County area, be sure to click on BIRDING/QUINTE AREA BIRD REPORT from the Main Menu of my website. Prince Edward County is situated south of Belleville and Trenton. There are five access points – C.R. 64 from Brighton, Highway 33 at Carrying Place, Highway 62 at Belleville, Highway 49 at Deseronto, and Highway 33 at Glenora. To reach Prince Edward Point, take County Road 10 from Picton to Cherry Valley and Milford, then C.R. 13 at South Bay to Prince Edward Point. Terry Sprague Prince Edward County [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/
