Spring continues to be a bit slow at Prince Edward Point and sometimes it seems like the trees are leafing out faster than any birds are arriving. May should be fun. COMMON LOONS continue to move through and peaked at 10 on the 21st. A RED-NECKED GREBE was seen on the 18th and high flying GREAT BLUE HERONS have been seen most days. About 10 GREATER SCAUPS are being seen daily while WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS number between 300 and 400 daily. LONG-TAILED DUCKS continue to feed offshore in good numbers. RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS are increasing and several flocks a day can be seen moving north. A SHARP-SHINNED HAWK has been frequenting the woods. Three SANDHILL CRANES were seen on the 19th. Offshore BONAPARTE'S GULLS are moving and 2500 were seen on the 20th. A PILEATED WOODPECKER was seen on the 20th and YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKERS are still trickling through. The first BLUE-HEADED VIREO was banded on the 18th with another present on the 21st. A COMMON RAVEN flew over on the 17th and a rare spring bird at the Point, a HORNED LARK was seen on the 20th. Two ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOWS were flying about the cliffs at Point Traverse on the 21st with CLIFF, TREE and BARN SWALLOWS being seen daily. BROWN CREEPER numbers are decreasing as are GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS. RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS are increasing though with nearly all birds being males. Twenty HERMIT THRUSHES were present on the 21st and up to 3 BROWN THRASHERS are singing. Two species of warblers have been seen this week - YELLOW-RUMPED and PINE, the former numbering 8 and the latter numbering 5 on the 21st . An EASTERN TOWHEE has finally taken up residence and is singing most days now. CHIPPING SPARROWS numbered 12 on the 21st and a VESPER SPARROW and SAVANNAH SPARROW were feeding on newly sown grass seed on the 21st. SWAMP SPARROWS are back and 4 were banded on the 21st along with 8 WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS. DARK-EYED JUNCOS continue to move and up to 25 a day are being seen. Nine RUSTY BLACKBIRDS were in the trees beside the Observatory on the 21st while at the feeders we seem to be having a trickle of PURPLE FINCHES moving through. A female HOUSE SPARROW, rare at the Point, was seen on the 20th. Finally not 1 but 5 HARLEQUIN DUCKS, four of them females and the other being a nice male, were swimming around at the harbour mouth among the BUFFLEHEADS and LONG-TAILED DUCKS on the morning of the 22nd.
Other species of interest from Prince Edward County can be found by clicking on BIRDING from the Main Menu of the NatureStuff website at www.naturestuff.net The Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory is gearing up for the 14th annual Prince Edward County Birding Festival, May 08-16. Guided bird hikes every morning at 8:00 a.m., evening walks, Birdathon, banding demonstrations, art show, and workshops on insects, wildflowers, nature photography and birding by ear. Details at www.peptbo.ca Prince Edward Point is located at the southeastern tip of Prince Edward County and can be reached by following County Road 13 from Black River Cheese for 24 km. Terry Sprague [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 information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
