WEEKLY BIRD REPORT FROM PRINCE EDWARD COUNTY AND THE QUINTE AREA FOR
Thursday, January 27, 2005
Extremely frigid weather this past week resulted in virtually no waterfowl
being reported, and most birding taking place from either the comfort of an
automobile, or through a window at the backyard bird feeders. Even the birds
seemed to be feeling the cold this week, if we can judge from one observer
west of Picton on Highway 33 who found a grey phase EASTERN SCREECH OWL
basking in the sunlight on her window sill. Further evidence of cold weather
came from Trenton where an observer there noted that at least half of the 20
MOURNING DOVES visiting his backyard feeder and heated bird bath had missing
toes, a common malady among this species during prolonged periods of extreme
cold.
Despite the cold, AMERICAN ROBINS are still being observed in small flocks
here and there in the County, and SONG SPARROWS continue to frequent menus
at 2075 County Road 7 east of Lake-on-the-Mountain and at 23 Sprague Road on
Big Island. Two other species, normally associated with more spring like
weather have also been seen - a TURKEY VULTURE near Cherry Valley on January
25th, and a NORTHERN HARRIER on a tree by Muscote Bay one day earlier.
GREAT GRAY OWLS still haven't made any measured movement into Prince Edward
County, with one near The Rock, a new sighting at Fish Lake off Potter Road,
and a possible individual being seen at Beaver Meadow Wildlife Management
Area, being the only three that appear to be present in the County. However,
elsewhere there have been sightings on Lynch Road near Tweed and one on
Wallace Street in Frankford, joining the sightings that were mentioned in
last week's report. In the past I have hesitated to report sightings from
nearby Amherst Island as it is already covered adequately in the Ontbirds
postings, but for the benefit of those 90 private subscribers to the Prince
Edward County report who are not subscribers to Ontbirds, recent sightings
over there have included 1 BOREAL OWL, a NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL, SNOWY OWL,
SHORT-EARED OWL, all in the "Owl Woods," and a GREAT HORNED OWL just south
of Stella on the island.
Other raptors seen around the area during the week were ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK on
Glenora Road, COOPER'S and SHARP-SHINNED HAWKS at Waupoos, COOPER'S HAWK and
RED-TAILED HAWK at Trenton and another SHARP-SHINNED HAWK at a feeder
located on County Road 2 between Christian Road and McFaul Road, and still
another COOPER'S HAWK in Bloomfield. An AMERICAN KESTREL, something of a
rarity in the County this winter, was observed west of Caughey Road at the
west end of Big Island on January 22nd. NORTHERN SHRIKES appeared at feeders
in Thomasburg, and in Prince Edward County in Rossmore, and also just west
of The Rock along Prince Edward Bay. Despite open water being a precious
commodity, a number of BALD EAGLES were noted during the week patrolling the
shorelines, including at least four separate birds (2 immatures and 2
adults) at The Rock on January 22nd, and four adults being seen at the same
location on January 26th. Almost directly across the peninsula, along
Adolphus Reach, two adults were seen together on January 27th.
Getting back to the feeder reports, over a dozen CEDAR WAXWINGS were
observed at the corner of Sunset Drive and Sunset Court today; new locations
for RED-BELLIED WOODPECKERS at feeders came from Huff's Island Road and
another from Waupoos. A PURPLE FINCH, another species which is a bit of a
rarity anymore compared to years past, is at a feeder west of The Rock;
RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES are sampling the menus at feeders in Thomasburg and
in Prince Edward County east of Lake-on-the-Mountain, where I have to
mention again for the second week of the feeder there awash with up to 12
NORTHERN CARDINALS. A feeder at Massassauga has a nice collection of 6
WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCHES among the clientel there. The feeder located at
the "Owl Woods" on Amherst Island has a BROWN THRASHER. Highs of 40
MOURNING DOVES are at feeders in Trenton (also similar highs at 2075 C.R.
7); 50 HOUSE FINCHES in Albury, 50 AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS at 23 Sprague
Road, 25 AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES at Waupoos, and 40 COMMON REDPOLLS at a feeder
near Allisonville.
Other good sightings during the week included 50 SNOW BUNTINGS in the
Townline Farms area north of Wellington last weekend and another 30 seen
further north between Closson and Swamp College Road on the 21st, possible
involving the same flock. A handful was also seen on Ben Gill Road on the
22nd. A flock (rafter?) of 30 WILD TURKEYS showed up at 2075 County Road 7
mid-week.
And that's it for this week from Prince Edward County and the Quinte area.
Our thanks to Pamela Martin, Walter Frey, Donald McClure, Judith Bell,
Sergio de Sousa, Shirley & Ken Joyce, Lloyd Paul, Fred & Janet Chandler,
Alfred Newnham, Cathy Shalla, Rae O'Brien, Bruce DiLabio (Ontbirds), Evelyne
Sloane, Laura Pierce, Bill & Joan Ripley, John Charlton, John & Margaret
Moore, Henri Garand, Brian Durell, Allen Terpstra, Linda Swaine, Joe Victor
and Peter Marshall for their contributions to this week's report. This
report will be updated on Thursday, February 3rd. Bird sightings may be
forwarded to [EMAIL PROTECTED] at any time before the Thursday 6:00 p.m.
deadline. This report also appears on the NatureStuff website at
www.naturestuff.net under BIRDING, with this week's feature photo of the
EASTERN SCREECH OWL west of Picton, taken by Donald McClure of Bloomfield.
Terry Sprague
Picton, Ontario
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
www.naturestuff.net
