WEEKLY BIRD REPORT FROM PRINCE EDWARD COUNTY AND THE QUINTE AREA for Sunday, September 21, 2003
Even in a hurricane, Prince Edward County does not receive any appreciable amount of rain (5 mm). Neither did it receive anything special in the way of birds either. Even a BLACK VULTURE at Prince Edward Point today that was earlier believed to have been possibly related to the winds of this tropical storm, was apparently seen as early as September 9th in the Point Traverse area, by an observer from Aurora. The exceptionally early COMMON EIDER, also at Prince Edward Point, and mentioned in last week's report, continues to delight visitors to the Prince Edward Point National Wildlife Area. It was seen today by observers from Kingston as well as bird banders at the Point, and was also observed on September 14th. BLUE JAYS are getting very regular now and up to 3,000 a day are passing over Prince Edward Point. A small arrival of migrants on Tuesday included among others: 40 BLUE-HEADED VIREOS, 10 PHILADELPHIA VIREOS and 15 RED-EYED VIREOS. Warblers included 60 CHESTNUT-SIDED, 70 MAGNOLIA, 40 BLACK-THROATED GREEN and 30 AMERICAN REDSTARTS. A YELLOW-THROATED VIREO, CAPE MAY WARBLER, NORTHERN PARULA, WHITE-THROATED SPARROW and RUSTY BLACKBIRDS also turned up on that date. The first autumn BROWN CREEPER and AMERICAN PIPITS put in an appearance at the Point on the 17th. A late PURPLE MARTIN was seen yesterday, as well as a late morning movement of raptors including 5 NORTHERN GOSHAWKS, 3 BALD EAGLES, 80 SHARP-SHINNED HAWKS, COOPER'S HAWK and 8 BROAD-WINGED HAWKS. One observer hawk watching at Sandbanks Provincial Park for three and a half hours on Tuesday came up with 5 TURKEY VULTURES, 2 NORTHERN HARRIERS, 3 SHARP-SHINNED HAWKS, 1 RED-TAILED HAWK, and 5 AMERICAN KESTRELS. Also seen in flight were 9 NORTHERN FLICKERS and 970 BLUE JAYS. Among the sightings made at Sandbanks' West Point, Athol Bay and East Lake yesterday were 7 COMMON MERGANSERS, 2 TURKEY VULTURES, 1 OSPREY, 2 SHARP-SHINNED HAWKS, 1 COMMON MOORHEN, 2 SPOTTED SANDPIPERS, 1 SANDERLING and a BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLER. A sighting of the latter species was also made today at Bloomfield during the week, where nectar feeders there were still attracting a RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD and a BALTIMORE ORIOLE. A late fledged AMERICAN ROBIN was also seen in the Bloomfield area on Thursday. Other interesting sightings made during the week included 2 WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS at Prince Edward Point on Wednesday, TURKEY VULTURE at Consecon, GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL and a DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT (both dead) on North Beach, and an AMERICAN KESTREL at Doxsee Road today. And that's it for this week from Prince Edward County and area. Our thanks to David Okines (Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory), Don Craighead, Bud Rowe, John and Margaret Moore, Donald McClure and David Tomlinson for their contributions to this week's report. This report will be updated by 8:00 p.m. on Sunday, September 28th. Bird sightings must be in by 6:00 p.m. Sunday evening to be included in the next report. Good birding. Terry Sprague Picton, Ontario [EMAIL PROTECTED] www.naturestuff.net "Terry Sprague" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Visit http://www.ofo.ca/ontbirdsguide.htm for information on leaving and joining the list. As well as general information and content guidelines.
