WEEKLY BIRD REPORT FROM PRINCE EDWARD COUNTY AND THE QUINTE AREA FOR THE
WEEK ENDING Thursday, March 08, 2007
While the HARRIS'S SPARROW at 2800 County Road 1 in Prince Edward County,
may not have been the most frustrating bird for birders to track down in
their attempts to see this rare winter visitor, it most certainly was among
the top two! The bird was absent today for observers, but was around for
much of yesterday for those who journeyed to catch sight of it. The bird
seems to enjoy the company of HOUSE SPARROWS and AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS, and
if these are at the feeders in good numbers, then the prospects of seeing
the HARRIS'S SPARROW are much improved. Whether successful, or not, you will
likely have to go a long way to find hosts that are more hospitable, as
observers have reported being treated to refreshments and invites into the
house to see the bird from the comfort of the kitchen. Our sincere thanks to
hosts Ron and Nancy Fox for their hospitality and patience during this
exciting time for birders.
When the HARRIS'S SPARROW turned up initially late last month, another
rarity turned up elsewhere in the county that was overlooked in last week's
report. A TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE was seen along County Road 13 on February
27th, in the vicinity of Little Bluff Conservation Area, at South Bay. This
area bears watching, as it was in this area where one was seen in November
of 2006. Whether it is the same individual is uncertain, but if you are on
your way to Prince Edward Point anytime, just keep your eyes peeled for a
robin that doesn't look quite right. Speaking of which, there were hundreds
of AMERICAN ROBINS down that way that same day, and also seen were 1,000
EUROPEAN STARLINGS, a NORTHERN FLICKER, 5 YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS, a few
flocks of CEDAR WAXWINGS, along with an EASTERN BLUEBIRD between South Bay
and the Black River Cheese Factory. EASTERN BLUEBIRDS (2) during the week
were also observed along Bethel Road near Demorestville.
While cold weather this week (chunks of ice were floating in my heated bird
bath one morning !) would seem to deny that we are well into March, the
increasing flocks of AMERICAN ROBINS would beg to disagree. Over 200 were
seen in scattered numbers along one 2 km length of South Big Island Road on
Friday, and sightings ranging from a few individuals to several hundred have
been reported elsewhere in the county. A drive along county roads isn't
complete without sighting at least a few HORNED LARKS, one of our earliest
spring migrants, AMERICAN CROWS and, of course, the huge flocks of wintering
EUROPEAN STARLINGS, many of which descend on local bird feeders, a subject
about which the less said the better, according to some bird feeder
operators who host at least that many, and more. Other spring-like birds,
but likely wintering individuals, have been a BROWN CREEPER near Bloomfield,
and a surprise arrival of a CHIPPING SPARROW that likely wintered somewhere
nearby, near Thomasburg.
While some favourite waterfowl viewing areas are stubbornly trying to open
up, at least 200 MALLARDS have not heard the news and continue to arrive
daily at an east Belleville address for early morning breakfast. The owner
of the backyard, feeds an average of 200 pounds of corn per week. Elsewhere,
ducks are behaving normally. Barcovan at Weller's Bay had a nice assortment
yesterday, comprising AMERICAN BLACK DUCKS, MALLARDS, REDHEADS, scaup, MUTE
SWAN (130), CANADA GOOSE (200), COMMON MERGANSER, BUFFLEHEAD, COMMON
GOLDENEYE, WHITE-WINGED SCOTER and LONG-TAILED DUCK. Meanwhile at Wellington
Harbour today, there were about 400 CANADA GEESE, 45 MUTE SWANS, 100
MALLARDS, and lesser numbers of scaup, BUFFLEHEADS, COMMON GOLDENEYE,
REDHEADS, COMMON MERGANSERS, WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS and LONG-TAILED DUCKS. In
the eastern part of Prince Edward Bay, strong winds during the week loosened
winter's grip on the ice there and the open waters along Cressy Lakeside
revealed thousands of ducks and about 30 TUNDRA SWANS. Nearby Kaiser
Crossroad is maintaining its optimism despite the wintry conditions, and 200
CANADA GEESE were scavenging there for corn on the 3rd. In the Cape Vesey
area of Prince Edward Bay, COMMON GOLDENEYE, COMMON MERGANSERS and a female
RED-BREASTED MERGANSER were chalked up by one observer.
Seen at Cape Vesey too, was a BALD EAGLE one of the more dependable areas in
the county this winter to find this species, and a ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK was
seen along County Road 1 in the Bloomfield area yesterday. A NORTHERN
HARRIER was nonchalantly ripping apart its feathered quarry along the Big
Island causeway on Monday paying no attention to cars passing by within
scant metres of it. A COMMON RAVEN was heard calling at Cape Vesey at noon
today, one location where this species is sighted repeatedly during the
summer months.
Bird feeders across the region are still doing a brisk business. The high
numbers of birds at a Glenora Road feeder have not faltered, despite the
calendar. About 40 HOUSE FINCHES are among the clientel there (another 40
coming to a Trenton feeder), a rather impressive number for this species
compared to some feeders in the area. AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES number 25, some
30 BLUE JAYS, and high numbers of BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEES, DOWNY and HAIRY
WOODPECKERS, a PILEATED WOODPECKER and 2 RED-BELLIED WOODPECKERS. Two
RED-BELLIED WOODPECKERS are also at a feeder at County Road 1, and another
appears regularly at a Wilson Road feeder. A bird feeder in Thurlow is also
reporting lots of action with 30 MOURNING DOVES and 30 DARK-EYED JUNCOS,
also attracting the attention of 2 RED-TAILED HAWKS.
CEDAR WAXWINGS are still hanging around the Massassauga Point area where
they have been for most of the winter, and 38 were counted in one Carrying
Place backyard on the 5th. The resident flock at an address along Glenora
Road continues to be anything but nomadic, and still hovers at the 40 mark
most days. Scattered numbers of WILD TURKEYS were reported across the region
this week, but 8 walking on the ice of the Moira River at Foxboro one
evening were of particular interest.
We can assume winter will continue, until it is finished, and that might be
as early as this weekend when temperatures are expected to rise. One lone
SNOW BUNTING in the Bloomfield area yesterday still reminds us that winter
may be here awhile though before the tree swallows and killdeers make their
appearance.
This is a condensed version of the Quinte Area Bird Report, containing only
the significant sightings for Prince Edward County and the Quinte area. The
full version can be found on the NatureStuff website, under BIRDING from
the Main Menu.
Terry Sprague
Prince Edward County
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
www.naturestuff.net
