This is the Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory report for the week of October 19-25, courtesy of David Okines, Bander in Charge.
RED-THROATED LOONS are not common at Prince Edward Point, so 2 seen on the 24th and 5 on the 25th were a surprise. RED-NECKED GREBES were seen on the 19th and 21st and HORNED GREBES are being seen regularly about 3 km up the road. Five GADWALL on the 24th were new for the fall. Not much change in the numbers of WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS and GREATER SCAUP this week, both of which can be difficult to see unless the lake is calm. On the 24th 7 SURF SCOTERS flew past and were new for the fall. LONG-TAILED DUCKS are still uncommon but 19 were seen on the 25th. A few hawks have been moving this week and peak counts were 10 NORTHERN HARRIERS on the 21st, 25 SHARP-SHINNED HAWKS on the 22nd, 4 NORTHERN GOSHAWKS on the 22nd and 80 RED-TAILED HAWKS on the 22nd. Two GOLDEN EAGLES were seen on the 21st and three flew over the next day. A BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER was new for the fall on the 21st and was seen on the rocks near the lighthouse. BARRED OWLS are being seen or trapped on most nights this week and the total banded now stands at a record 19. NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWLS have been slow due to the easterly winds with just a handful on most nights, the exception was the 21st/22nd night when 100 were seen or banded. A YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER was banded on the 20th and a few HAIRY WOODPECKERS a day are starting to appear. On the 24th 2 NORTHERN SHRIKES were found one of which was in the nets and was an adult male (see photo on the website). BLUE-HEADED VIREOS have almost finished moving with several days now between sightings. BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEES are still moving albeit in much smaller numbers of only 30+ a day except for the 19th when 100 were seen. RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES are still common and up to 15 a day are being counted. BROWN CREEPERS had decreased but had a final fling on the 24th when 15 were seen. GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS are trickling through and peaked at 90 on the 21st, RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS peaked at 25 that same day. As is usual in late October, EASTERN BLUEBIRDS are moving and 30 were seen going over on the 20th, 19 went over the next day and one was seen on the 22nd. HERMIT THRUSHES are in smaller numbers and up to 10 a day are being found, AMERICAN ROBINS on the other hand are increasing up to 120 are being seen daily. CEDAR WAXWING numbers are slowly building up and up to 80 a day are being seen. Five species of warblers were seen this week. An ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER was banded on the 19th, and a NORTHERN PARULA was banded the following day. Single BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLERS were seen on the 19th and 21st and 2 late western PALM WARBLERS were seen on the 25th. YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS are still moving though and peaked at 50 on the 20th and 45 the next day. The first AMERICAN TREE SPARROW arrived on the 19th and two more were banded on the 24th. A SAVANNAH SPARROW in the nets on the 22nd was new for this falls banding list, a single FOX SPARROW was seen on the 19th and four were found on the 21st. Both WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS and WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS have all but gone now but DARK-EYED JUNCOS are increasing and peaked at 120 on the 24th. NORTHERN CARDINALS are starting to appear and 1-4 a day are being seen. Icterids continue to move with up to 150 RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS being seen in a day, COMMON GRACKLES are moving in larger numbers with up to 1000 a day going over. Among all the other blackbirds there are a handful of RUSTY BLACKBIRDS being seen with a peak of 103 on the 25th. EASTERN MEADOWLARKS were seen on the 19th and 22nd and were new to the fall. PURPLE FINCHES are still moving with up to 35 a day being recorded. Also being seen this week are HOUSE FINCHES with up to 12 a day being seen. Bulk finches moving this week have been PINE SISKINS, with most days having between 500 and 700 recorded. The 22nd saw a flock of 22 EVENING GROSBEAKS fly over followed several hours later by a group of 5 attending the feeders. PEPTBO will close for the season after banding next Wednesday (the 31st). Elsewhere around Prince Edward County, CAROLINA WRENS were seen in two locations this past week. One is coming to a feeder at South Bay, and another was seen this morning along a fence row west of 23 Sprague Road, Big Island, near Demorestville. EVENING GROSBEAKS were seen at Lake on the Mountain and at Big Island. A female NORTHERN SHOVELER at the Bayshore Trail in Belleville, BALD EAGLE at Sheba’s Island and at Black River. There was a late BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER at Prince Edward Point on the 22nd where 25 WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS were also seen the same day. And bird feeder operators across the region are reporting large numbers of PINE SISKINS, ranging from a couple dozen to well over 100. 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/
