WEEKLY BIRD REPORT FROM PRINCE EDWARD COUNTY AND THE QUINTE AREA
for Sunday, May 25, 2003
And the spring migration continues, albeit in spurts with none of the
spectacular waves and fallouts so eagerly looked forward to by birders. The
later arriving CANADA WARBLER, BLACKPOLL WARBLER and WILSON'S WARBLER showed
up at Prince Edward Point on May 19th. Also arriving to add a little variety
beyond the constant "che-beck" calls of the LEAST FLYCATCHER, were two more
species found on Monday and Tuesday - OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER and 2
YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHERS. A NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD was seen there on Monday.
At Sandbanks, 40 BRANT showed up to complement those also seen the same week
at Prince Edward Point and Point Petre. Other good birds seen at the Park
have included YELLOW-THROATED VIREO, BLACKPOLL WARBLER, NORTHERN PARULA and
PHILADELPHIA VIREO. YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKERS have been present at Prince
Edward Point, Fish Lake and Sandbanks, along with a few other locations
around the county. BLACK TERNS arrived in the county on May 17th with the
first two seen at the Prince Edward Point Harbour, followed by 10 in the
Bloomfield Marsh at Wesley Acres Road on May 18 & 19, and another two at
Point Petre on May 22nd. There was a COMMON NIGHTHAWK seen on Ridge Road
during the week, and a RED-HEADED WOODPECKER was present for two days at
R.R. #5, Belleville.
The concern about the burgeoning numbers of MUTE SWANS in the Quinte area,
with the prediction that nesting pairs will one day resort to isolated ponds
and marshes is coming true as pairs have made their nesting debuts at Fish
Lake, a small pond near Farley Avenue in Belleville, and another established
pair claiming territory on the east side of the old causeway at Beaver
Meadow Wildlife Management Area. Beaver Meadow on Monday evening also
offered WOOD THRUSH, 3 GREAT BLUE HERONS, 3 ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAKS and a
MARSH WREN.
Accidentally omitted from last week's report was the summary of the OFO trip
to Prince Edward Point on May 17th, attended by 15 members of the Ontario
Field Ornithologists. Pickings were poor but the members combing the entire
Prince Edward Point/Point Traverse area as well as the wooded swamp two
fields west of the lighthouse came up with a respectable count including
GADWALL, BLUE-HEADED VIREO, WOOD THRUSH, BROWN THRASHER, TENNESSEE WARBLER,
NASHVILLE WARBLER, BAY-BREASTED WARBLER, SCARLET TANAGER, CLAY-COLORED
SPARROWS, and INDIGO BUNTING, along with other species typical for this time
of year. OFO members attended from Guelph, Warkworth, Campbellford,
Brighton, Collingwood, Brooklin and Toronto.
Bird feeders around the county continue to enjoy visits from INDIGO
BUNTINGS, BALTIMORE ORIOLES, RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRDS and a few other
species passing through during migration. There was a VEERY in a backyard at
Pleasant Bay during the week, and our own feeder hosts regular visits from
nesting GRAY CATBIRD, BROWN THRASHERS, DOWNY WOODPECKERS and BLACK-CAPPED
CHICKADEES, all of which have nests in our yard.
And that's it for this week from Prince Edward County and the Quinte
area. Our thanks to Lloyd Paul, David Bree, Barry Pinsky, Mia Lane, Joanne
Dewey, Judy Bell, Pat Whittaker, Wendy Sharp, Trudy Kitchen, John & Margaret
Moore, Carol Perlberg, Michael Schummer, John & Donn Legate and Ken &
Shirley Joyce for their contributions to this week's report. This report
will be updated by 8:00 p.m. on Sunday, June 1st. Bird sightings must be in
by 6:00 p.m. on Sunday evening to be included in the next report. Good
birding.
Terry Sprague
Picton, Ontario
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
www.naturestuff.net
"Terry Sprague" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
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