WEEKLY BIRD REPORT FROM PRINCE EDWARD COUNTY AND THE QUINTE AREA FOR THE
WEEK ENDING Thursday, July 26, 2007
Where have our TRUMPETER SWANS disappeared that were released in Prince
Edward County in June of 2006? That's what Harry Lumsden, retired MNR
employee and the man behind the swan release, would like to know. In an
e-mail to me last week, he says, "Of the 26 swans we released in Prince
Edward County, 10 were recorded in the US this past winter. They were
reported from Barniveld, Rome, Liverpool, Poland and Saugertees Lake New
York. Three went as far as the Pratt/Reed Reservoir in Connecticut. Only
one of these has been reported back in Ontario so far. Three apparently
did not leave the Province and were reported at Peterborough, East Lake in
Prince Edward County, and Mississauga then on to Wye Marsh, then Waubashene
this spring." If any TRUMPETER SWANS are spotted in Prince Edward County,
please forward the numbers to [EMAIL PROTECTED] and they will be forwarded on
to Harry Lumsden.
We are particularly interested in the west end of Consecon Lake where
TRUMPETER SWANS have been seen in the past. Over the years, very few marked
swans have been recorded in the US, according to Harry Lumsden. Of those,
only half returned. We are concerned about the birds that were released in
Prince Edward County.
Bird banding at the Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory will be getting
underway in about two weeks. Volunteers were on hand this week getting the
net lanes mowed and other necessary preparations completed. A SANDERLING and
a GREATER YELLOWLEGS there on the 24th were reminders that the fall
migration is now in progress.
Mostly though this week, it was more of the same, with the majority of
reports involving birds at bird feeders. PURPLE FINCHES have been noted at
feeders at 2800 County Road 1, Glenora, Waupoos, Wellington and Thomasburg.
ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAKS are regulars at numerous feeders in the reporting
area with up to 15 at one location along Glenora Road, east of Picton. It is
the time of the year when many of the guests involve young of the year,
accompanying parent birds to the feeders. Among them reported this week,
were BALTIMORE ORIOLES, EASTERN BLUEBIRDS, GRAY CATBIRDS, BROWN THRASHERS,
both DOWNY and HAIRY WOODPECKERS, RED-BELLIED WOODPECKERS and BLACK-CAPPED
CHICKADEES. Along Ridge Road, a pair of EASTERN BLUEBIRDS brought their four
young to a backyard pond. Who says summer bird feeding can't be enjoyable?
Other backyard guests reported this past week were EASTERN TOWHEES at
Thomasburg, HOUSE WRENS at Wellington, GREAT CRESTED FLYCATCHERS along
Scoharie Road, CEDAR WAXWINGS in Waupoos, and a surprise visit from a
singing WOOD THRUSH at 23 Sprague Road, some distance from the nearest
woodlot. Two OSPREYS were seen at South Bay, calling repeatedly and
occasionally hovering, and NORTHERN HARRIERS have become more obvious in
recent days in the Big Island Marsh area.
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
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Terry Sprague
23 Sprague Road,
R.R. # 1, Demorestville, Ontario K0K 1W0
613-476-5072 (home), 613-848-4549 (cell)
