Hi Ontbirders, At Prince Edward Point on Friday, Joyce and I found a bird that we couldn’t identify along the stony track that runs between the road and the lake between Traverse Woods and the banding station. We first saw it at 11.45 am and last saw it at 2.15 pm when we left. I took lots of photos, although none of good quality.
Back at home I puzzled over the bird and told Terry Sprague about it. The bird was sparrow size and looked to me a bit like a Lark Bunting between plumages, but it had a red patch on the front of its head, somewhat similar to a Redpoll. The bird was eating dandelion seeds in the middle of and at the edges of the track. Stephane Menu, the head bander at Prince Edward, saw one of my photos and thought the bird was probably an escapee. I am told the bird was seen again on Saturday, closer to the woods. Today I found a picture in a Middle East field guide. It breeds in the Caucasus and the higher mountains of Turkey and Iran. It was formerly known as the Red-fronted Serin. Wikipedia says it is a popular cage bird and escapees are occasionally found throughout Europe, so the bird is obviously an escapee. Despite not being countable, it was an interesting bird to see. Directions: Prince Edward Point is southeast of Picton in Prince Edward County. Follow County Road 10 from Milford, or County Road 13 from Black River Cheese, and follow for 17 km to the Prince Edward Point National Wildlife Area. Mike Jaques Carleton Place _______________________________________________ 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/
