WEEKLY BIRD REPORT FROM PRINCE EDWARD COUNTY AND THE QUINTE AREA FOR THE
WEEK ENDING Thursday, May 17, 2007
It is actually somewhat refreshing to be staring at a computer screen
instead of yet another black-throated green warbler ! This week's report is
from the Prince Edward Point National Wildlife Area, where I have been
stationed since May 11th, conducting guided birding walks for groups every
day. As we approach 140 species of birds seen in just seven days, there are
still many that have not been noted, mainly due to everyone's attention
being on the passerines, and less attention on some of the more routine
birds. Heavy rains and thunderstorms two days ago resulted in a cacophony of
bird song as some 27 species of warblers descended on the peninsula,
including large numbers of BLACKPOLL WARBLERS, TENNESSEE WARBLERS, MAGNOLIA
WARBLERS and BAY-BREASTED WARBLERS. For once there was something
outnumbering the YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS. The Point Traverse Woods today had
BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO, WHIP-POOR-WILL, SWAINSON'S and WOOD THRUSHES, VEERIES,
along with the above mentioned warbler species. A SUMMER TANAGER turned up
only a few metres from a SCARLET TANAGER on the weekend in the Point
Traverse Woods, while on the Prince Edward Point side of the peninsula,
Kingston observers there checked off a YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT and an
OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER. At least two CERULEAN WARBLERS also put in an
appearance. Birders from Montreal, New York, Vermont and local areas were
all on hand to take in the action. A PEREGRINE FALCON flew over the Point
Traverse Woods this morning, and was determined to be a different individual
than the one seen during the same time period just down the road at the
Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory.
Bander David Okines was kept busy, on top of his regular duties, talking to
groups of visitors as well as one 53-passenger bus load from Kingston. In
his report from the Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory, he reports that
two BLUE-WINGED WARBLERS were found on the 11th with another present on the
15th, yet another BREWSTER'S was trapped on the 11th and GOLDEN-WINGED
WARBLERS were seen on the 11th, 12th and 14th. A notable count of 10
NORTHERN PARULAS was made on the 14th, and the first ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER
turned up on the 15th. Large numbers of warblers have been present on most
days with a large arrival on the 15th with notable counts of NASHVILLE
WARBLER 50, YELLOW WARBLER 65, CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER 25, MAGNOLIA WARBLER
70, TENNESSEE WARBLER 30, CAPE MAY WARBLER 25, BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLER
30, YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER 300, BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER 20 and 12 each of
WESTERN PALM WARBLER and BAY-BREASTED WARBLER and OVENBIRD 20. A
YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT was also seen that day. Single BLACKPOLL WARBLERS were
seen on the 11th, 14th and 15th and AMERICAN REDSTARTS, SCARLET TANAGERS,
BALTIMORE ORIOLES and INDIGO BUNTINGS are adding a nice splash of colour as
they flit about the bushes and trees. HOODED WARBLERS were seen on the 11th
and 14th while the first CANADA WARBLER appeared in a net on the 11th
(others were found at Point Traverse during the week) . The GAMBELL'S race
of the WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW has been seen on four days with two birds being
present on the 12th. Late staying DARK-EYED JUNCOS were seen on the 13th and
17th. A female HOUSE SPARROW was seen around the harbour and observatory
area on the 14th but it failed to be caught.
The first CANADA GOOSE goslings appeared on the 11th and up to 18 can
now be found around the harbour. The resident female WOOD DUCK was being
courted by 5 males on the 14th. Other less common ducks for here at this
time of the year were a GADWALL on the 16th, an AMERICAN WIGEON on the 14th
and 2 GREATER SCAUP on the 12th. There are still around 3000 LONG-TAILED
DUCKS offshore along with 120 or so WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS although the
numbers of both are staring to dwindle. About a dozen SURF SCOTERS continue
to be seen off Point Traverse in Prince Edward Bay. Up to 2 SHARP-SHINNED
HAWKS are being seen around the point but raptors are few and far between.
The pair of KILLDEER are still present in the harbour but no sign of young
yet, a SOLITARY SANDPIPER was seen on the 16th and 17th and SPOTTED
SANDPIPERS have been present since the 11th. Two SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPERS
were seen on the rocky shoreline east of the Observatory on the 14th, and
possibly the same two were seen again today. The BONAPARTE'S GULL flock
offshore has gone with none seen since the 14th. A WHIP-POOR-WILL was
singing briefly on the morning of the 14th but has not been seen since in
the Observatory area.
Occasional CHIMNEY SWIFTS are going over and three were counted on the 16th,
RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRDS are getting to visit the feeders more now and 6
or 7 are being recorded daily. A RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER was vocally present
on the 14th and 17th. The first EASTERN WOOD-PEWEE found its way into a net
on the 15th although an earlier one was in the Point Traverse Woods on the
9th where it can still be found. Fifteen or so LEAST FLYCATCHERS are around
every day now and EASTERN KINGBIRDS and GREAT-CRESTED FLYCATCHERS are
present in small numbers. A YELLOW-THROATED VIREO was singing in the woods
on the 14th, both PHILADELPHIA and RED-EYED VIREOS arrived on the 14th. BLUE
JAYS are continuing to be found in small numbers (less than 80 a day) and
the local COMMON RAVEN was seen on both the 11th and 12th. An unusual bird
at the point despite breeding just up the road on the 16th was two PURPLE
MARTINS. The CLIFF SWALLOWS are building on the lighthouse again and there
are also 8-9 pairs building on the Observatory as well. A late BROWN CREEPER
was present on the 12th and the occasional GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET can also
still be found. RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS, although declining are still found
in good numbers with 20 - 40 seen daily. The BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHERS that are
building a nest on the other side of the harbour have entertained many
visitors this week. All the thrushes were present this week with
GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSH arriving on the 15th and SWAINSON'S THRUSH arriving on
the 11th, WOOD THRUSHES are vocal in the woods every morning now adding
their voices to the other summer migrants that are arriving daily.
And that's it for this week from Prince Edward Point. Next week the Quinte
Area Bird Report will resume its overall Quinte area coverage and reports
may be e-mailed to me at any time before the 6:00 p.m. Thursday deadline. Be
sure to check the online version of the Quinte Area Bird Report where this
week's photos of the BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER nesting at Prince Edward Point is
by the author, and a Point Traverse YELLOW WARBLER is by Russ Kitchen. Photo
of David Okines speaking to a group of visitors is by the author and can be
found on the Main Birding page of the NatureStuff website.
Terry Sprague
Prince Edward County
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
www.naturestuff.net
