WEEKLY BIRD REPORT FROM PRINCE EDWARD COUNTY AND THE QUINTE AREA FOR Sunday, May 09, 2004
After the surge of spring migrants last week, things seem to have levelled off a bit. New arrivals continue to show up with GOLDEN-WINGED, BLUE-WINGED, ORANGE-CROWNED, TENNESSEE WARBLERS and NORTHERN PARULA being a few of the more recent arrivals. The season's first RUBY-THROATED HUMMING BIRD was reported in Trenton on May 6th and individuals have been turning up elsewhere as well, with one reported enjoying the petunias at Norman's Greenhouses on Fry Road in Prince Edward County. At Prince Edward Point, LONG-TAILED DUCK numbers have dropped off and only a few hundred a day are usually seen now. Three GREEN-WINGED TEAL were seen on May 4th and a BLUE-WINGED TEAL on May 8th. The resident CANADA GEESE in the harbour area have hatched at least 8 goslings so far and KILLDEER are still setting on eggs. An UPLAND SANDPIPER was seen walking about on the road near the Observatory on May 3rd. RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRDS are now coming to the Observatory feeder and there have been two RED-BELLIED WOODPECKERS around for most of the week. Up to 12 LEAST FLYCATCHERS, 2 GREAT CRESTED FLYCATCHERS and 8 EASTERN KINGBIRDS have been noted. WARBLING VIREOS and RED-EYED VIREOS are being seen and BLUE JAYS are increasing as expected as numbers continue to pass through. Up to 45 RUBY-THROATED KINGLETS are being banded daily and the first VEERY was seen on the 8th and up to 3 WOOD THRUSHES have been recorded daily in the area of the Observatory. A BREWSTER'S WARBLER was seen on May 3rd and a PRAIRIE WARBLER was around the Observatory on the 7th. YELLOW WARBLERS are increasing and a few NORTHERN PARULAS are starting to appear. A PINE WARBLER was seen on May 3rd, as were 250 YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS, the first BAY-BREASTED WARBLER on the 4th and the first SCARLET TANAGERS on the 3rd. Birding is good too at Sandbanks Provincial Park where birds reported during the week included a RED-HEADED WOODPECKER on May 6th, BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHERS, and warblers comprising NASHVILLE, BLACK-THROATED GREEN, BLACK-THROATED BLUE, PALM, TENNESSEE, BLACKBURNIAN and CHESTNUT-SIDED. A late ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK was seen at Wellington Harbour on May 7th, and a lingering AMERICAN TREE SPARROW was still hanging around Prince Edward Point on May 4th. There was a SANDHILL CRANE in the Tweed area on May 8th, WOOD DUCKS were seen at Thomasburg and EASTERN BLUEBIRDS are reported nesting on Lahey Road, southwest of Madoc. Despite the traditional bird feeding season being long gone, bird feeders around the area continue to enjoy excellent patronage from migrating ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAKS, WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS, CHIPPING SPARROWS, SONG SPARROWS, hoards of WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS, AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES and both RED-BREASTED and WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCHES. Nectar feeders are attracting BALTIMORE ORIOLES in some areas. Bird Migration Awareness Week is taking place next week. I will be staying in my trailer at 5535 Long Point Road at Prince Edward Point from May 14th to May 22nd, and leading 8:00 a.m. birding hikes through the Point Traverse Woods every morning. On Sunday morning, the Ontario Field Ornithologists will be meeting there at 7:00 a.m. for a full day at the Point and I will be with them for most of the day. The Quinte Field Naturalists will be there on May 15th, the Kingston Field Naturalists on May 16th, the latter making an encore appearance on May 22-23 for their annual Spring Round-up. In addition, The Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory also have events planned, as does Sandbanks Provincial Park. Things will be hopping in the county next week, and it will be mainly for the birds. And that's it for this week from Prince Edward County and the Quinte area. Our thanks to Bruce Ripley (Ontbirds), Dale & Marilyn Northrup, Fred Chandler, Grace Sorenson, Hans Myderwyk, Kenneth Motley, Teresa Hounslow, Yvonne Prentice, Elena Petrcich, Donald McClure. Thomas Rymes, Doris Lane, Joanne Dewey, John Charlton, Pamela Martin, John Foster, Robert & Silvia Botnick, Doug & Evelyn Sloane, and Judi Gray for their contributions to this week's report. This report also appears on the Birding page at www.naturestuff.net and will be updated by 8:00 p.m. on Sunday, May 16th. 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
