WEEKLY BIRD REPORT FROM PRINCE EDWARD COUNTY AND THE QUINTE AREA FOR THE WEEK ENDING Thursday, May 29, 2008
Highlight of the week was on Friday 23rd when Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory Manager David Okines and his group were doing their Birdathon, a WHITE-WINGED DOVE flew over and landed briefly in the trees opposite the Observatory just as they were preparing to depart. Shortly after, it departed back towards Point Traverse, later around noon it was found again near the lighthouse and excellent views of it were had and a picture was taken of it. Later that day at the Kaiser crossroads a RUFF was found feeding at the back of the field beside a WILSON'S PHALAROPE. Back at Prince Edward Point, occasional COMMON LOONS are still going over, BRANT continued to move as well and 125 went north on the 25th - 27th. The SURF SCOTERS were still present off Point Traverse on the 23rd and an estimated 2000 WHITE-WING SCOTERS flew past on the 24th with reasonable numbers flying past daily since then. LONG-TAILED DUCKS have all but gone and only odd birds being seen now. RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS (250) flew past on the 27th. An OSPREY flew over on the 24th and an immature BALD EAGLE flew over on the evening of the 27th. A PEREGRINE FALCON was chased along the coast by gulls early on the 23rd. Few shorebirds are seen in the spring here but 7 RED KNOT and a LEAST SANDPIPER were on the beach on the 27th. Two CHIMNEY SWIFTS were feeding over the Point on the 28th and 29th and an estimated 12 RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRDS were seen on the 26th and 27th. A HAIRY WOODPECKER flew over on the 28th and a PILEATED WOODPECKER flew past on the 26th. Flycatchers are slow in coming this spring but an OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER was seen on the 25th, meanwhile fewer than 10 a day of EASTERN WOOD-PEWEE, YELLOW-BELLIED and LEAST FLYCATCHERS are being seen. The 26th was a good day for vireos and 80 RED-EYED, 15 PHILADELPHIA and 5 WARBLING VIREOS were present that day. BLUE JAYS continue to move at the rate of 1-200 a day. A COMMON RAVEN was seen on the 27th. On the 26th, a late GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET was seen at Point Traverse, EASTERN BLUEBIRDS were seen on the 26th and 28th. Thrush numbers remain low and a HERMIT THRUSH has been re-trapped a few times during the week. CEDAR WAXWINGS (180) were seen going over the area on the 26th. On the 23rd there was a BLUE-WINGED WARBLER, BREWSTER'S WARBLER and GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLER all present, the following day a LAWRENCE'S WARBLER and two GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLERS were seen at Point Traverse. Warblers have been mostly trickling through but on the 24th, 100 MAGNOLIA WARBLERS, 25 BLACKBURNIAN and 60 YELLOW WARBLERS were present. Twenty-six species of warblers were seen during the week. CLAY-COLORED SPARROWS are still being seen occasionally out in the field and a very late FOX SPARROW was trapped on the 26th. An adult male ORCHARD ORIOLE was seen at Point Traverse on the 24th. The Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory will close for the season on the 31st May and reopen on the 16th August. Meanwhile, other observers have been having some great success at Prince Edward Point. Members of the Kingston Field Naturalists on the 25th checked off nine species, among them 12 EASTERN WOOD-PEWEES, 12 GREAT CRESTED FLYCATCHERS, 40 LEAST FLYCATCHERS and two each of OLIVE-SIDED and YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHERS. Also seen by the group were 15 PHILADELPHIA VIREOS, a WHITE-EYED VIREO, 50 RED-EYED VIREOS and 19 species of warblers. On the 25th, 150 BRANT flew over Babylon Road and at least 2 CLAY-COLORED SPARROWS were found along the same road as well. In Belleville, a COMMON NIGHTHAWK, a species that seems to be rarely encountered anymore these days, was heard over Dunnett Blvd in the city, and CHIMNEY SWIFTS were seen over two different areas of the city as well. Two GREEN HERONS were seen in flight at Thurlow, a number of PINE SISKINS were seen at Hastings, and a VEERY and 2 COMMON YELLOWTHROATS were energetically singing at the Menzel Nature Reserve north of Deseronto yesterday evening. A NASHVILLE WARBLER and a COMMON YELLOWTHROAT turned up for one observer along the Millennium Trail off Mallory Road near Bloomfield during the week. The Millennium Trail - at least, a very bare, windy and dusty corn field beside it at Canadian Tire in Picton, produced 25 BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS for one observer at 5:00 p.m. this afternoon. Across the region, INDIGO BUNTINGS and ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAKS continue to sample the fare offered at feeding stations. While some observers feel privileged to have a single BALTIMORE ORIOLE make occasional visits to nectar feeders, one lucky couple near Picton have at least 12 coming to nectar feeders and cut oranges. Obviously addicted to the sweet stuff, one oriole even landed, briefly, on a hot barbeque while steaks were being cooked! And that's it for this week from Prince Edward County and the Quinte area. Our thanks to David Okines of the Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory, Ron Weir, Donna Fano, David Bree, Heather Heron, Fiona King, Wayne McNulty, Kathy & Bob Willis, Michael Jaques and John Blaney for their contributions to this week's report. This report will be updated on Thursday, June 5th, but sightings can be e-mailed anytime before the Wednesday night deadline. Photo by Bob Willis on the Main Birding Page of the NatureStuff website features one of 12 BALTIMORE ORIOLES that are coming to feeders at their house near Picton. Photographer Dave Bell of Belleville once again features a YELLOW WARBLER and a BALTIMORE ORIOLE in the online edition of the Quinte Area Bird Report. 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
