WEEKLY BIRD REPORT FROM PRINCE EDWARD COUNTY AND THE QUINTE AREA FOR THE
WEEK ENDING Thursday, March 29, 2007
A temperature of minus 4 degrees at 6:00 a.m. this morning didn't stop the
AMERICAN WOODCOCKS from producing their nasal "peent" call notes, reminding
me of a noise from a faulty part of an electrical system. The birds arrived
March 22nd along a quiet road near the far east end of Big Island, and have
been reported elsewhere in the Quinte area since. One observer from Maitland
Drive in Belleville commented, "they were so loud here and close, that I
thought they were going to drop out of the sky right at my feet!"
The three easterns - EASTERN MEADOWLARKS, EASTERN PHOEBES, and EASTERN
BLUEBIRDS have increased in numbers. EASTERN BLUEBIRDS have been inspecting
nesting boxes east of Lake-on-the-Mountain at two locations, and TREE
SWALLOWS have even been noted doing likewise in the Tweed area. New arrivals
there this week were NORTHERN FLICKER and the first reported BROWN THRASHER
of the year. At 2800 County Road 1, near Bloomfield, the first WILSON'S
SNIPES of the year were heard on March 26th. The HARRIS'S SPARROW was last
seen on the 18th at this address. Birders are always welcome to take in the
feeder activity here, but the owners request that you do not park along the
highway, but rather, come in the driveway to prevent the family dog from
wandering out into traffic. There is plenty of parking. Birders are also
invited to wander the short distance to the edge of the Big Swamp where WOOD
DUCKS were observed earlier this week. NORTHERN HARRIER numbers have
increased as the migration of this species augments those that wintered in
the Quinte area, and TURKEY VULTURE reports have also increased from last
week.
While spring continues to arrive in brief spurts as though unsure of its
welcome, the overall warmer temperatures have dropped activity at most
feeding stations down to a whisper mode. The feeder, however, along Glenora
Road east of Picton, continues to hum at its customary frantic pace and
among the clientel there this week were 20 AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES, 4 SONG
SPARROWS, 2 RED-BELLIED WOODPECKERS, 4 NORTHERN CARDINALS, 35 BLUE JAYS, 4
WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCHES, 10 DARK-EYED JUNCOS, 20 BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEES,
10 HOUSE FINCHES and 8 PURPLE FINCHES. Certainly no slumbering there.
Meanwhile, at our feeder, the selection of birds is so poor right now that
even the neighbour's cat has stopped watching the few birds that visit
daily, although most of the regulars are present, but in greatly reduced
numbers. Forty AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES are still at a feeder in the Thomasburg
area.
Four YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS, possibly wintering individuals, although spring
migrants could be along in two weeks, were observed in the Massassauga area
this week. A couple dozen CEDAR WAXWINGS are still in that area where they
have been since Christmas, and others were reported across the region. Also
noted during the entire day on Saturday were about 3,200 CANADA GEESE flying
east over the Massassauga area. However, it wasn't only at Massassauga where
this west to east/northeast movement of geese was noted; nearby Big Island
had an estimated 2,600 fly over, and in the Prince Edward Point area, the
total was more like 20,000. It was a good day down that way to see waterfowl
of every description with 22 species being recorded. In the Prince Edward
Point area, WOOD DUCK (15), GADWALL (30), AMERICAN WIGEON (45), REDHEAD
(12), RING-NECKED DUCKS, both GREATER and LESSER SCAUP, WHITE-WINGED SCOTER,
LONG-TAILED DUCKS, BUFFLEHEAD, COMMON GOLDENEYE, two SNOW GEESE and all
three species of mergansers were tallied. A female BARROW'S GOLDENEYE was
seen near the Prince Edward Point Harbour. Across Prince Edward Bay, in the
Cressy area, activity was much the same. Highlights at the Kaiser Crossroad
site were 135 TUNDRA SWANS, 125 NORTHERN PINTAILS and 10 GREEN-WINGED TEALS.
Kaiser Crossroad fluctuates day by day, apparently in response to the whims
of those present. On the 15th, numbers were down slightly, but there was
also a pair of NORTHERN SHOVELERS and, rather strangely, 3 CANVASBACKS
diving in a deeper part of the field, despite the overall shallow depth of
the water. Today, the waterfowl there were in greatly reduced numbers, and
totally absent by 4:00 p.m.
Over at the Glendon Green boat launch, the headwaters of the Outlet River in
East Lake, off County Road 18, continues to expand in size. RED-NECKED GREBE
and two PIED-BILLED GREBES were present on the 23rd among the regulars. On
March 15th, approximately 14 species of waterfowl were present and among
them were 300 scaup, 12 NORTHERN PINTAIL, 8 HOODED MERGANSER, 2 AMERICAN
WIGEON, a pair of WOOD DUCKS and a GREEN-WINGED TEAL. Still worth checking
out this week, if you get a chance. The same day, there were fully 10,000
ducks in Prince Edward Bay, east of Cape Vesey in the area of the Kaiser
Crossroad junction and among them was a WOOD DUCK and a pair of GADWALL.
Despite the ducks at Wellington being far out into the open waters of West
Lake now, there are still enough in the harbour itself to keep birders
occupied, at least, for a few minutes. Present there this morning were both
species of scaup, CANADA GOOSE, BUFFLEHEAD, RING-NECKED DUCK, LONG-TAILED
DUCK, COMMON GOLDENEYE, MALLARD, WHITE-WINGED SCOTER and both COMMON and
HOODED MERGANSER. Some good observing there yet. Parts of Muscote Bay are
opening up and present there today were over 600 CANADA GEESE, joined by
COMMON GOLDENEYE, BUFFLEHEAD, RING-NECKED DUCK, AMERICAN WIGEON and scaup.
And as if to give one last kick at the can before spring finally settles in,
two BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKERS were seen. One was present on the 25th in a
dead pine on a piece of property along a section of County Road 1 near
Picton, known locally as Sandy Hook Road. Another was seen yesterday morning
at Vanderwater Conservation Area, east of Thomasburg, and is likely the same
individual that was first observed there earlier this month.
Other good sightings this past week included 2 COMMON RAVENS in the
Rednersville area as well as another two at Cape Vesey, a PILEATED
WOODPECKER at Thomasburg, and a COOPER'S HAWK at Allisonville.
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
.................................................................................
NatureStuff - Tours and Things
interpretive hikes, bus tours
kayaking & canoeing tours
seminars & presentations
www.naturestuff.net
Terry Sprague
23 Sprague Road,
R.R. # 1, Demorestville, Ontario K0K 1W0
613-476-5072 (home), 613-848-4549 (cell)
