WEEKLY BIRD REPORT FROM PRINCE EDWARD COUNTY AND THE QUINTE AREA FOR THE
WEEK ENDING Thursday, July 12, 2007
Any walk in the woods these days, no matter what the temperature, will
reveal at least two species of birds singing with the same gusto as they
would during spring mating season - the WOOD THRUSH and the RED-EYED VIREO.
With others it is simply too hot to sing for happy and we have to be content
with fleeting glimpses of many quiet and retiring species as they melt into
the foliage. One species did remain in sight long enough to be confirmed. A
TENNESSEE WARBLER was spotted by a park naturalist at Sandbanks Provincial
Park on July 3rd and 6th, likely the same bird. Although Tennessee Warblers
are common enough during spring migration in May as they pass through this
area from their wintering grounds in Mexico and northern South America,
their nesting grounds are in the northern boreal forests of Ontario.
Interestingly, while it was earlier thought that the species should not be
present in the county in July, banding studies at Prince Edward Point in
years past have shown that the southward migration of this species actually
begins in early July.
Whether the bird was a summer resident, or indeed, one passing through on
its way south, will never be known. However, another warbler, the OVENBIRD
is commonly heard at this time of the year in wooded areas where they nest
locally, but only on occasion actually seen by the fortunate. One was
observed along Highway 62, near Jericho Road, only this one was not only out
of its woody habitat, but at a bird feeder.
Bird feeders around the county and general Quinte area are still a-flutter
with numerous species, proving that summer feeding can actually be more
rewarding for some of us than winter feeding. One popular distributor of
bird feed in the county, Picton Farm Supply, claims summer sales of bird
feed exceeds winter sales. At a feeder along Glenora Road, east of Picton,
both BALTIMORE and ORCHARD ORIOLES, 15 and three respectively, are visiting
nectar feeders there, and both species have been noted in a backyard along
Ridge Road, southwest of Picton. ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAKS are also regular
guests at many nectar feeders this summer, and at a Thomasburg feeder, up to
10 ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAKS and 12 AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES are regulars there,
along with a half dozen PURPLE FINCHES. And where there are birds at
feeders, there is bound to be action as reported by a Thomasburg area couple
who watched with surprise as a SHARP-SHINNED HAWK chased a HAIRY WOODPECKER
from the feeder, straight over their heads, through the open front of the
yard, brushing the tops of their heads. Both birds veered off the screen and
disappeared into the woods. RED-BELLIED WOODPECKERS are at a feeder in the
Glenora area.
Present in a Cape Vesey backyard, but not at a feeder, was a BROWN CREEPER
this week. A RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH is present at a Picton feeder, and
despite the recent rains, bird baths are still enjoying brisk business.
Along Ridge Road, among the species there bellying up to the bar have been
GRAY CATBIRD, EASTERN MEADOWLARK and YELLOW WARBLER. As one Ridge Road
resident commented in her e-mail, "It's free entertainment all day long !
Why leave home?"
Beyond the backyard bird bath, a juvenile BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON was
observed perched on the bow of a boat tied up to a dock at Ameliasburgh's
Roblin Lake early in the week. A SOLITARY SANDPIPER lived up to its name at
an Elmbrook area pond on July 7th. A GREAT EGRET was seen at the Fox Pond
off Wooler Road on Tuesday and another was seen at the Brighton Wildlife
Area two days earlier. A GREEN HERON was spotted at a barrier beach swamp
west of Cape Vesey, and another was seen along George's Road, east of
Northport on the 12th. During the creation of a new hiking trail at Sidney
Conservation Area, south of Stirling, early this week, a party of volunteers
bumped into OVENBIRD, WOOD THRUSH, ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK and RED-EYED
VIREO. RED-EYED VIREOS were also singing in fine style today at Prince
Edward Point, Morrison's Point, and at a woodland along the upper reaches of
Black River. EASTERN KINGBIRD, BELTED KINGFISHER, AMERICAN WOODCOCK AND
BLACK TERN were all reported from Sheba's Island in West Lake this week.
Frequent sightings of BALD EAGLES in the last few weeks provide considerable
optimism that the species will one day nest in Prince Edward County again.
There is a program underway right now to investigate potential nesting sites
in the county for this species, and four of us were scouting out some
suitable areas today identified as high priority eagle habitats and where
nesting platforms could be erected. Providing some fuel to the optimism was
the sighting of an adult bird at Glenora on July 9th, as well as summer
sightings of adult birds in past years. Immature birds are frequently seen
cruising the Smith's Bay/Prince Edward Bay areas, and one was seen last
weekend, perched on a cliff at Cape Vesey.
So, from some very small warblers to some very large birds of prey, it has
been a productive week in the Quinte area. Keep your binoculars poised.
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
