WEEKLY BIRD REPORT FROM PRINCE EDWARD COUNTY AND THE QUINTE AREA for Sunday, September 26, 2004
The Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory reported this past week that DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT numbers offshore have remained steady at 5000 until today when 15,000 were seen flying past. SHARP-SHINNED HAWKS (100) were seen on September 19th, and numbers during this week were nearer to 15-20 a day being seen. Occasional COOPER'S HAWKS are being seen and a NORTHERN GOSHAWK was noted on the 25th. Also seen that day were 20 RED-TAILED HAWKS. A LESSER YELLOWLEGS flew over on the 22nd. An EASTERN SCREECH OWL was in the area on the 23rd and 24th and was trapped on the first night, NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWLING has started for the fall and 13 have been trapped since the 20th including 8 on that date. YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKERS are becoming more frequent with 1 - 6 being seen daily. An EASTERN WOOD PEWEE was seen today but most flycatchers have gone now. BLUE JAYS are moving through in numbers and have reached a peak so far of 2000 on the 21st. Kinglets are also arriving and 86 were trapped today, part of a total of 200+ that were banded today. The first ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER of the fall also turned up in a net today as well. The Observatory's only WOOD THRUSH of the fall was trapped on the 24th and HERMIT THRUSHES have started to appear. Large numbers of GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSHES have been moving through and volunteers at the Observatory already caught more of them than in any other year. WESTERN PALM WARBLERS are on the increase and the good run of BLACKPOLL WARBLERS seems to be coming to an end. The first WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW of the fall appeared on the 23rd and the first DARK-EYED JUNCO on the 21st. A flock of 36 RUSTY BLACKBIRDS flew over on the 25th and a WHIMBREL was seen on the 21st. Observers from Kingston were at Prince Edward Point on September 20th and were surprised to see 30 HORNED GREBES and 7 RED-NECKED GREBES off the north shore, a relatively high number for September in county waters. With them were 4 WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS. There were some groups of usual warblers including 2 NORTHERN PARULAS. About 30 BLUE-HEADED VIREOS and 30 RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS were the commonest flock members. Several WINTER WRENS, RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES, a PHILADELPHIA VIREO, a GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSH (14 were banded that day), 2 SWAINSON'S THRUSHES and a VEERY were also seen. The 10 GREAT EGRETS, reported in last week's summary, are still hanging around 12 O'Clock Point near Carrying Place, and on Friday were observed on Indian Island, just east of 12 O'Clock Point. A female RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD was still coming to a feeder near Waupoos as of Thursday. WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS showed up on Ridge Road on the 26th, almost coinciding with their arrival at Prince Edward Point, and large numbers of WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS have been present all week on Sprague Road at Big Island. And also on Ridge Road, southwest of Picton, an EASTERN SCREECH OWL was heard calling on the night of September 25th. And that's it for this week from Prince Edward County and the Quinte area. Our thanks to David Okines (Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory), Donn Legate, George Kozoriz, Fran Donaldson and Paul Mackenzie for their contributions to this week's report. This report, also posted in the BIRDING section of the NatureStuff website, will be updated by 8:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 3rd. 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
