WEEKLY BIRD REPORT FROM THE QUINTE AREA for Sunday, February 09, 2003
Glenora Ferry seemed to be the in place this past week for interesting
birds. In addition to as many as three BALD EAGLES being seen along this
stretch of Adolphus Reach, some of which can often be seen right from the
ferry, there have been some other good sightings there as well. A BARROW'S
GOLDENYE has been present in the channel for several days along with COMMON
GOLDENEYE, GREATER SCAUP and RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS. Ferry operators say
that many of the waterfowl spend the night roosting beneath the ferry ramps,
despite the noisy clatter of cars crossing the ramp to and from the ferry.
Of particular note last week was what appears to have been a GREEN HERON
hopping from ice flow to ice floe in the ferry track, catching alewives. The
bird was well described, and birders using the ferry are asked to be on the
lookout for it. There were two GLAUCOUS GULLS in the ferry channel on
Thursday.
Bird feeder operators are still reporting good success at most feeders
in the Quinte area despite a noticeable absence of winter finches. Extremely
high numbers of TREE SPARROWS are being reported at most feeders along with
similar numbers of MOURNING DOVES, BROWN-HEADED COWBIRDS and DARK-EYED
JUNCOS. At 23 Sprague Road on Big Island, 5 RUSTY BLACKBIRDS have joined the
menagerie that regularly descends on the feed there, although the CAROLINA
WREN has not been seen since the cold snap of a week or so ago. The VARIED
THRUSH continues to delight birders at 383
Prinyer's Cove Crescent. It was last reported today. A RED-BELLIED
WOODPECKER and NORTHERN FLICKER are also patronizing this feeder. Another
NORTHERN FLICKER is coming to a feeder east of Tweed. And there are 16 WILD
TURKEYS coming to a feeding station on Moira Road, east of Highway 62, north
of Belleville. NORTHERN HARRIER and COOPER'S HAWK were both reported at a
Maitland Avenue backyard north of Belleville.
Despite the cold weather, there are still a few open spots in the Moira
River, at Belleville. In one such location, directly across from the Knights
car dealership on Station Street, there is still a male GREEN-WINGED TEAL
where it was initially found in early January.
Other Quinte area sightings over the past week included 4 SNOW BUNTINGS
on Highway 62 near Ben Gill Road, 50 MALLARDS in Consecon Creek on Ben Gill
Road, 10 HORNED LARKS at Wooler, and RED-TAILED HAWKS at 401 and
Wallbridge/Loyalist Road and also on Wooler Road.
The NatureStuff website has been updated for the month of February. This
month's updates includes information on tall grass prairie in the
Naturalization section, and some useful "tidbits" (pardon the pun) on
offering table scraps at your bird feeder. We look at roadside birding under
the Birding Opportunities section, and for wildflower enthusiasts there is a
review under References on a new book by Court Noxon, "Field, Forest,
Hedgerow - A Hiker's Wildflower Guide to Prince Edward County." This year's
roster of outdoor events (something scheduled for every weekend this year,
and many evenings) can be found in the Outdoor Events section and a new
section has been added to the photo gallery, including 12 outstanding photos
of Main Duck Island by Toronto photographer Doug Arnberg. We hope you spend
some time on the website and do plan to check out the banners for Ducks Dive
Charters and Cottages, Doug Arnberg Theme Photography, and Frontenac
Outfitters who help in supporting this website.
And that's it for this week from Prince Edward County and the Quinte
Area. Our thanks to John Haig, Albert Boisvert, Janet Foster, Art
MacConnell, Joanne Dewey, John Charlton, Lloyd Paul, Judy Bell, Rita
Chapman, John Moore, Dave Milson (OntBirds) and Scotty Allan for their
contributions to this week's report This report will be updated by 8:00 p.m.
on Sunday, February 16th. Bird sightings must be in by 6:00 p.m. on Sunday
evening to be included in the next report. Good winter birding!
Terry Sprague
Picton, Ontario
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
http://www.naturestuff.net
"Terry Sprague" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
