WEEKLY BIRD REPORT FROM PRINCE EDWARD COUNTY AND THE QUINTE AREA FOR THE
WEEK ENDING Thursday, January 31, 2008
While sightings of more summery type birds this past week suggests warmer
weather in the offing, tomorrow's predicted weather could very well put a
damper on their premature enthusiasm. A FOX SPARROW turned up at a feeder
during the week in the west end of Belleville, and at Cape Vesey in Prince
Edward County, a WHITE-THROATED SPARROW has been heard singing at least
twice this past week. A YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER is still making periodic
visits to a feeder in Wooler, appropriately enough, at The Birdhouse store
operated by Connie Crowe. NORTHERN FLICKERS (2) were seen January 26th along
County Road 13 in the South Bay area and another has been visiting a feeder
at the east end of Picton. HORNED LARKS (12) were seen along Wesley Acres
Road on the 22nd, probably the only real true harbinger of spring since they
are expected to arrive anyway in about two weeks as one of our earlier
spring migrants.
Meanwhile, it's business as usual at bird feeders and beyond. COMMON
REDPOLLS are still holding their own at local feeders with 50 being the
norm, while at Stirling a flock of 200 continues to pillage the countryside
as it has since early in the season. Six BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS stopped briefly
at 23 Sprague Road, seemingly interested in the action below at the feeders,
but continuing on their way. Another 25 showed on Saturday, near the Prince
Edward Point Bird Observatory. BLUE JAYS have been reported in high numbers
at some feeders with 23 at a feeding station on Green Point Road beside the
Quinte Skyway Bridge, and more than 30 most days at a Big Island feeder. One
feeder at Allisonville is enjoying good numbers from several species
including up to 20 BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEES, 4 NORTHERN CARDINALS, at least 4
DOWNY WOODPECKERS, 30 or more DARK-EYED JUNCOS, 50 COMMON REDPOLLS and a
half dozen HOUSE FINCHES, the latter species absent at many locations this
winter. RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES, a species more common than usual at local
bird feeders this winter, have been reported at a Low Street feeder in
Picton, Consecon Lake area, Harmony Road at Thurlow, and one is coming to a
feeder on Ventress Road in Salem, west of Brighton. Also at Salem, a BARRED
OWL flew across the bottom of Little Lake Road.
With feeder success, also comes the success of hawks lurking not far away.
One Ridge Road resident near Bloomfield had a bitter sweet experience when
all three members of the Accipiter family dropped in for a visit -
SHARP-SHINNED, COOPER'S and a NORTHERN GOSHAWK, as well as RED-TAILED HAWK
that perched in a cherry tree for two hours while BLUE JAYS gathered on
branches above it. What was probably a NORTHERN GOSHAWK also showed up not
far away, on May Road. A RED-TAILED HAWK was also seen along County Road 2
during the week. NORTHERN HARRIERS, a species rather rare in the region
during winter months in former years, seem to be turning up more frequently
with each passing winter. In addition to an individual which is more or less
a regular in the Big Island area, one was seen on Wesley Acres Road in the
Bloomfield area on the 22nd, and another west of Brighton. A NORTHERN SHRIKE
was seen on the 26th just past the Ducks Dive Charters and Cottages on Long
Point Road, and a BALD EAGLE was seen today flying along the shore of Prince
Edward Bay.
High winds (clocked at 120 km/h. at Point Petre) yesterday were a bit too
much for an 18-wheeler that flipped on its side on the Norris Whitney
Bridge, at Belleville, closing the bridge for two hours. However, 50 WILD
TURKEYS at their usual stomping grounds at the Sidney Street location north
of the 401 at Belleville, braved the high winds, although keeping close to
the shelter of the woods. One BLUE JAY in difficulty at a Sprague Road
feeder was observed attempting to fly off, only to be caught up in the wind
and was instantly spread-eagled against the house. After falling
ignominiously to the ground, the bird recovered and disappeared into the
howling gales.
While gale force winds may have loosened up some of the ice, colder weather
kept much of it intact over the past week. Wellington Harbour fluctuates
according to the whims of winter. Last week, the harbour was completely
frozen over except for the cove in behind the restaurant beside the
government wharf. Consequently, numbers were but a fraction of what they
would otherwise be, but in amongst the singles of COMMON GOLDENEYE, CANADA
GOOSE, MALLARD and 45 or so MUTE SWANS were the two TRUMPETER SWANS -
Numbers 044 and 052 that have apparently settled in for the winter. In spite
of total ice cover on Adolphus Reach at Adolphustown, 2 MUTE SWANS
nevertheless landed on the ice near Bayshore Road there this week.
And as if to remind us that winter is still here, several reports of SNOW
BUNTINGS came in with two of the larger flocks involving 25 individuals
along Gardenville Road south of Carrying Place and 30 along County Road 2,
north of Wellington.
And that's it for this week from Prince Edward County and the Quinte area.
Our thanks to Donald McClure, Brian & Gloria Durell, Connie Crowe, Fred
Chandler, Kathy Felkar, Brenda Deans, Doug & Evelyn Sloane, Cathie Stewart,
Cheryl Anderson, Sophia Huyer, Ted Cullin, David Bree, Fiona King, Bill Hogg
and Donn Legate for their contributions to this week's report. This report
will be updated on Thursday, February 7th, but sightings can be e-mailed any
time before the 6:00 p.m. Thursday deadline. Featured photos in the online
edition of the Quinte Area Bird Report include the Belleville FOX SPARROW
courtesy of Brenda & Tony Deans, and a head and shoulders shot of a
RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH by Dave Bell of Belleville. Photo on the Main Birding
Page of the NatureStuff website of the flock of 200 COMMON REDPOLLS in
Stirling is by Cathie Stewart.
Terry Sprague
Prince Edward County
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
www.naturestuff.net
_______________________________________________
ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial
birding organization.
Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list [email protected]
For instructions to join or leave ONTBIRDS visit
http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdssetup.php
ONTBIRDS Guidelines may be viewed at
http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdsguide.php
