WEEKLY BIRD REPORT FROM PRINCE EDWARD COUNTY AND THE QUINTE AREA FOR Sunday, May 23, 2004
The news this week is almost entirely from Prince Edward Point where this past week 158 species of birds were present at this southeastern most tip of Prince Edward County in eastern Lake Ontario. Purchased by the Canadian Wildlife Service in 1978, the Prince Edward Point National Wildlife Area has been making a name for itself since being discovered by the Kingston Field Naturalists as a major staging area for migratory birds in the early 1960s. During the week, birders and naturalist groups were there from numerous points within eastern Ontario, Quebec, as well as Ohio. At least 31 species of warblers were present at Prince Edward Point this spring, and 23 of these were present during last week. The CLAY-COLORED SPARROWS have been putting on a good show in the fields behind the Observatory and are actively nesting right now. The other local resident birds are well into their breeding season and nests are appearing everywhere. Up to 3 ORCHARD ORIOLES can be found most days around the harbour and are probably breeding there. Nests of BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER and WARBLING VIREO have also been found near the harbour and 60 or more pairs of CLIFF SWALLOWS are nesting in their usual location at the lighthouse. WHIP-POOR-WILLS and AMERICAN WOODCOCKS are calling out in the fields most nights. Both BLACK-BILLED and YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOOS are present at both Prince Edward Point and in the Point Traverse Woods. On May 16th, 2 SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHERS were seen sitting on a log overhanging the water at the harbour across from the government dock. A PIED-BILLED GREBE was also seen swimming in front of them. On May 18th a BLUE-WINGED WARBLER was seen near Point Traverse and a CERULEAN WARBLER was seen near the lighthouse. Banders that day had 3 MOURNING WARBLERS and a BREWSTER'S WARBLER that was one of the backcrosses, looking like a Blue-winged Warbler, but showing yellow wing bars. On May 19th, 2 EUROPEAN GOLDFINCHES turned up with a flock of AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES at the parking lot area near the harbour tip. On May 20th, a GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSH was seen at Point Traverse and up to 3 RED-HEADED WOODPECKERS were present during part of the week. Also on May 20th, there was an OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER just south of Point Traverse, but the bird of the day was a GREAT CORMORANT seen flying north past the lighthouse at 6:00 a.m. by a team doing the Birdathon. The bird was in the company of DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS and was not seen again. There is only one other record of this species for the county. On May 21st, 660 BRANT flew north in five flocks and also going past were 100 WHIMBREL. More CANADA & MOURNING WARBLERS and flycatchers are being seen now and should peak in the next week or two. A BLACK SCOTER flew past on the 22nd and a COMMON TERN was fishing offshore in the morning. Today 700+ DUNLIN flew past with a few of the smaller groups settling briefly on the beach, with one such group containing a WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER. There were two NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRDS this morning, a species that has been present at the Point all week, testing the skills of birders identifying by ear. On more than one occasion, entries on checklists of Carolina wren, kestrel and especially purple martin, were erased when the songs were all traced to an individual mockingbird perched atop a high tree. Elsewhere in the county, bird feeders continue to enjoy visits from migrating ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAKS and INDIGO BUNTINGS. A FORSTER'S TERN was at Sandbanks Provincial Park on May 17th. >From the files of the unusual and bizarre comes this story of a Charles Street resident in Belleville watching as a GREAT BLUE HERON floated down from the sky in a great spiral to her postage stamp backyard surrounded by an 8-foot fence and many tall trees to feed from her ornamental fish pond where the bird had already removed 12 goldfish. Three were also taken from a neighbouring pond. And that's it for this week from Prince Edward County and the Quinte area. Our thanks to Bruce Ripley, David Okines, Eric Machell, Ken Edwards, Don Docherty & Ann Hide, Joe Victor, Doris Lane and Peter Sporring for their contributions to this week's report. This report will be updated by 8:00 p.m. on Sunday, May 30th. 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
