WEEKLY BIRD REPORT FROM PRINCE EDWARD COUNTY AND THE QUINTE AREA FOR THE WEEK ENDING Thursday, October 02, 2008
More indications of the fall season this past week as DARK-EYED JUNCOS and YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS continue to build in numbers. At least 50 of the latter were present in one section of Sheffield Conservation Area, south of Kaladar on Monday, and both species are turning up in many backyards across the region. A murmuration of EUROPEAN STARLINGS comprising fully 1,000 individuals alternate between the east and west ends of Big Island most days. Thirty CEDAR WAXWINGS during the week descended onto junipers east of Lake on the Mountain, devouring a heavy crop of berries. Near Tweed, a flock of 1,000 COMMON GRACKLES appeared in one backyard. There was a RED-NECKED GREBE off Wallbridge Point in the Massassauga area on the 26th, and a GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL was observed at Snake Island in the Bay of Quinte, between Massassauga and Belleville, with the usual DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS, MALLARDS and RING-BILLED GULLS. On the 28th at Outlet Beach, there were 2 BONAPARTE'S GULLS feeding in the shallows, a dozen SANDERLINGS at the shoreline with a single DUNLIN, and a SHARP-SHINNED HAWK that crossed close to the beach. A visit to tiny Scotch Bonnet Island, south of Nicholson Island in Lake Ontario on Friday produced three RUDDY TURNSTONES and a single SPOTTED SANDPIPER. About 50 MUTE SWANS were present in Presqu'ile Bay at Gosport when we returned to the Brighton boat launch. A GREAT EGRET was present at Tremur Lake, west of Trenton on the 29th. A COMMON RAVEN passed over 23 Sprague Road at Big Island this afternoon, and COMMON RAVENS were also present this week at Sandbanks and at Cape Vesey where COMMON LOONS and WILD TURKEYS were also noted. A NORTHERN GOSHAWK was seen at Vanderwater Conservation Area at Thomasburg Thursday afternoon, and two AMERICAN KESTRELS were present during the week along Huyck's Point Road, and another was seen near the Sophiasburgh Cemetery along County Road 15. Lots of activity in most backyards these days with not only fall migrants, but also increased activity by local residents at bird feeders. A PILEATED WOODPECKER was on a hydro pole near one home at South Bay, and EASTERN PHOEBES were reported from at least a half dozen backyards during the week. Since niger seed has escalated to an all time high in price right now, AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES, of course, have correspondingly increased their interest in this gourmet food. The more common winter regulars such as BLUE JAYS, both DOWNY and HAIRY WOODPECKERS are increasing their presence at many feeders. Despite October having arrived, RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRDS have shown little interest in departing just yet, with some nectar feeders still enjoying patronage right up to today. At Prince Edward Point, DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT numbers offshore have already started to decrease and only about 1000 remain on the shoal. TURKEY VULTURES moved on the northwesterly winds on the 2nd and 120 were tallied. Also seen during that movement were 3 BALD EAGLES, 100+ SHARP-SHINNED HAWKS, at least 15 COOPER'S HAWKS, a NORTHERN GOSHAWK and 15 RED-TAILED HAWKS. Other raptors seen during the week include single BALD EAGLES on the 26th and 30th, and an immature PEREGRINE FALCON on the 30th. Three SANDHILL CRANES were seen along Babylon Road during the week. On the 29th, a BLUE-WINGED TEAL was found in the harbour among the MALLARDS and 3 GREEN-WINGED TEALS were there on the 31st. Eleven GREATER SCAUP were seen on the 29th along with 11 RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS and 13 WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS. A late SPOTTED SANDPIPER was on the beach on the 30th and was the only shorebird seen all week. OWLING has continued all week despite no birds being caught between the 26th and 29th. There were 46 NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWLS seen on the 30th/1st and 45 were recorded the following night, the number banded now standing at exactly 100 for the fall. A GREAT-HORNED OWL has been calling in the area and a LONG-EARED OWL was calling in the small hours of the 2nd. A PILEATED WOODPECKER was banded on the 29th and is only the second one ever banded in the fall here. A late YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHER was trapped on the 30th and EASTERN PHOEBES are present most days. BLUE-HEADED VIREOS are increasing and 25 were recorded on the 2nd, a WHITE-EYED VIREO was trapped on the 30th and is only the second one banded here in the fall. BLUE JAYS are migrating in earnest now and the week's peak of 8000 was seen on the 27th with most days now having 2-5000 going over. Two COMMON RAVENS were present on the 28th. Kinglets are also staring to arrive and 20-50 of each species can be seen daily. GRAY-CHEEKED and SWAINSON'S THRUSHES are trickling through and a HERMIT THRUSH was banded on the 2nd. A few migrant AMERICAN ROBINS are moving in the early mornings, but not in any real numbers yet. WARBLERS continue to move and 17 species were recorded this week. ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS were seen on the 26th and 29th, as were single NORTHERN PARULAS on those same dates. MAGNOLIA WARBLER numbers have dropped off as have BLACKPOLL WARBLERS. Species still moving in reasonable numbers include BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLERS which had a peak of 40 on the 27th. YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS have started to increase and peaked at 100 on the 30th. A late NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH was trapped on the 28th and the 2nd saw 3 OVENBIRDS banded. A SCARLET TANAGER that was still showing signs of moult was banded on the 2nd. A ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK was caught on the 29th, DARK-EYED JUNCOS are being seen more frequently and the first migrant flocks of RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS and COMMON GRACKLES flew over on the 2nd. AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES are moving and up to 200 in a day are being recorded. A single PINE SISKIN was noted on the 1st. 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, Cathy Anderson, Barry Pinsky, Pamela Stagg, Charles Crowe, Frank Artes & Carolyn Barnes, Ken & Shirley Joyce, Wayne McNulty, Janet Mooney, Fred Chandler, John & Margaret Moore, Ted Cullin, John & Janet Foster and John Charlton for their contributions to this week's report. This report will be updated on Thursday, October 9th, but sightings can be e-mailed any time before the Wednesday night deadline. Feature photo on the Main Birding Page of the NatureStuff website is by Terry Sprague, of CWS employees Chip Weseloh and Dave Moore conducting mortality counts on Scotch Bonnet Island. Photos in the online edition of the Quinte Area Bird Report are both by Adam Penson, of a GOLDEN-CROWNED and a RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET. 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
