WEEKLY BIRD REPORT FROM PRINCE EDWARD COUNTY AND THE QUINTE AREA FOR
Sunday, April 11, 2004
Birds are definitely moving into Prince Edward County and the Quinte
area, although not as quickly as what some of us would like to see. Cool day
time temperatures and even cooler evenings have probably put a damper on
things until the weather improves. We were sort of hoping for that "flock of
four warbler species" seen a week ago at Point Pelee, to turn up in Prince
Edward County somewhere, but nary a warbler has been seen yet.
New arrivals during the week included AMERICAN BITTERN in the Big Island
Marsh April 7th where at least two are now calling. Also new was an OSPREY
at the County Road 28/Massassauga Road nest site near Rossmore on April 3rd.
OSPREYS have also turned up this week on the nest at Trenton below the high
train bridge on April 7th, and at the Frankford site the following day. Two
OSPREYS were seen on Friday flying from Rose's Crossroad toward Cressy.
A male BLACK SCOTER showed up at Prince Edward Point on Friday. Another
special treat was a CAROLINA WREN in Milford on Thursday. Also noteworthy
during the week were 2 white phase SNOW GEESE hanging out with CANADA GEESE
on the Trent River on April 5th, and a lone WOOD DUCK west of The Rock on
April 9th.
WILSON'S SNIPE have been present since the last of March with one
present on Doxsee Road since March 30th, and others heard or seen through
the week over Ben Gill Road (4). EASTERN PHOEBES showed up during the week
in Albury, Big Island and at the Quinte Conservation Area, west of
Belleville. A feeder east of Lake-on-the-Mountain had a male PURPLE FINCH on
April 10th, and another was seen at Prinyer's Cove, something of a rarity
any more in Prince Edward County. A RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER is also coming to
the same feeder at Prinyer's Cove. A COMMON LOON has been present for most
of the week in front of Deseronto's Centennial Park. Other waterfowl
observed during the week included LESSER SCAUP and BUFFLEHEAD on Soup
Harbour, 3 BLUE-WINGED TEAL north of Deseronto and 14 TUNDRA SWANS in flight
over Adolphus Reach on April 8th. The Kaiser Crossroad flooded field
yesterday had about 1,000 birds, comprising CANADA GEESE (400), along with
MALLARDS, AMERICAN WIGEON, AMERICAN BLACK DUCKS, BUFFLEHEADS and some
NORTHERN PINTAILS. Other interesting sightings during the week were 2
EASTERN BLUEBIRDS on the northern edge of Thurlow, and a kettle of 12 TURKEY
VULTURES near Bongard Crossroad, and another TURKEY VULTURE feasting on a
dead skunk on County Road 8 near Kaiser Crossroad.
A birder on Mohawk territory Thursday, managed to round up 2 RED-TAILED
HAWK nests, a nesting GREAT HORNED OWL and about 30 GREAT BLUE HERONS on
their nests at the ball field marsh.
And that's it for this week from Prince Edward County and the Quinte
area. Our thanks to Sergio de Sousa, Ron Mason, Christopher Keen, Karen
Stenhouse, Lloyd Paul, John Charlton, Rae O'Brien, Bob Sachs, Liz Corbett,
Fred Chandler, John & Margaret Moore, Wynne Thomas, Don Craighead, Doris
Lane and Joe Victor for their contributions to this week's report. This
report also appears on the Birding page at www.naturestuff.net. This report
will be updated by 8:00 p.m. on Sunday, April 18th. Bird sightings must be
in by 6:00 p.m. on Sunday evening to be included in the next report. Good
spring birding.
Terry Sprague
Picton, Ontario
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
www.naturestuff.net
