Clear DayWEEKLY BIRD REPORT FROM PRINCE EDWARD COUNTY AND THE QUINTE AREA for Sunday, September 19, 2004
The fall migration continues in Prince Edward County, bringing along with it, a number of interesting sightings. Starting up in the far northwest corner of the county, there was a spectacular sighting of 10 GREAT EGRETS on September 16th hanging out at 12 O'Clock Point at the end of the Murray Canal in the Bay of Quinte. Also interesting was a female BUFFLEHEAD in the same location, a rather early date for the arrival of this species, and an equally early LESSER SCAUP. Moving to the Lake Ontario shore, there were 2 SNOW GEESE (colour phase unknown at this time) at Wellington today, and at Prince Edward Point, a PARASITIC JAEGER tuned up on September 10th, presumably as a result of the remnants of Hurricane Frances. Also seen that day was the Observatory's second ever LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL (one was also seen by Observatory volunteer David Okines on April 27th this year). There have been about 8 sightings of this species in Prince Edward County since 1981. Prince Edward Point has seen quite a few raptors so far this fall. Nine more BALD EAGLES passing through have been tallied, with 6 of them being on September 10th. Last year in September the Observatory had counted only 9 all month. An adult BALD EAGLE was also seen at Point Petre on September 13th, and another three on Swetman Island (Prince Edward Point) on September 17th. The best raptor day to date was Sept. 10th when the Observatory counted 8 NORTHERN HARRIERS, 70 BROAD-WINGED HAWKS, 60 SHARP-SHINNED HAWKS 10 COOPER'S HAWKS, 1 NORTHERN GOSHAWK, and 15 AMERICAN KESTRELS. Warbler migration also strengthened last week with a count on the 8th of 100 MAGNOLIA WARBLERS, 20 NASHVILLE WARBLERS, 14 BACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLERS, 15 AMERICAN REDSTARTS, 6 WILSON'S WARBLERS and a CONNECTICUT WARBLER. Signs that fall is proceeding was the first RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS which appeared on the 11th, the first WINTER WREN, and the first WESTERN PALM WARBLER on the 10th. GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSH, SWAINSON'S THRUSH and VEERY are beginning to appear in the bushes more now as well. While Prince Edward County has never been a drawing card for shorebirds, there are a respectable 33 species on the Prince Edward County Bird Checklist. On September 10th, seven species showed up including 1 WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER, 16 SEMIPALMATED PLOVER, 7 KILLDEER, 13 RUDDY TURNSTONES, 17 RED KNOTS, 1 PECTORAL SANDPIPER and a BAIRD'S SANDPIPER. One birder, kayaking around the False Ducks Islands (Timber Island and Swetman Island) on September 17th tallied RUDDY TURNSTONES, SANDERLINGS, BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS and a juvenile BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER. Also noted at the island were 6 AMERICAN PIPITS, and one each of COOPER'S HAWK, SHARP-SHINNED HAWK, MERLIN, RED-TAILED HAWK and BROAD-WINGED HAWK using the island as a landfall. In addition to two WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS, other birds seen that day at Prince Edward Point were good numbers of BLUE JAYS (200) and AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES (100). Another birder at the Point the following day found both RED-EYED and BLUE-HEADED VIREOS, NORTHERN PARULA, COMMON YELLOWTHROAT, 8 RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES and 6 BROWN CREEPERS, in addition to some of the other warbler species mentioned earlier. Other interesting sightings during the week included a PIED-BILLED GREBE at Beaver Meadow Wildlife Management Area, and a MERLIN at Point Petre. Blackbird movement has been fairly heavy during the week with large numbers of COMMON GRACKLES observed at Sheba's Island, and RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS at the Big Island Marsh. A RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD was still coming to a feeder at Sheba's Island on September 15th. And that's it for this week from Prince Edward County and the Quinte area. Our thanks to David Okines (P.E. Pt. Bird Observatory), David Bree, Doug McRae, Rae O'Brien, Ken Edwards, Lloyd Paul, Thomas Rymes, and John & Margaret Moore for their contributions to this report. This report, also posted in the BIRDING section of the NatureStuff website, will be updated by 8:00 p.m. on Sunday, September 26th. Bird sightings must be in by 6:00 p.m. on Sunday evening to be included in the next report. Good fall birding! Terry Sprague Picton, Ontario [EMAIL PROTECTED] www.naturestuff.net
