One of the first birds seen today on our 8:00 a.m. bird walk in the Point
Traverse Woods was a first year male SUMMER TANAGER. And then it just got
better after that ! While overall numbers of singing birds was not the
absolute din it was yesterday morning at this time, the variety was
excellent with 21 species of warblers seen on the walk and also reported by
other birders in the area. Parking was at a premium this morning in this
remote corner of Prince Edward County as birders tried for a repeat of
yesterday. Among the warblers seen and reported from the Point Traverse
wooded trails were both BLUE-WINGED and GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLER, CERULEAN
WARBLER, NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH, BAY-BREASTED and CAPE MAY WARBLERS, but
seemingly fewer numbers of OVENBIRDS, and NORTHERN PARULAS than what we
encountered yesterday. Most birds were at the west end of the trail system
where it was possible to stand in one spot with checklist in hand and just
keep checking them off as they appeared. EASTERN TOWHEE, ORCHARD and
BALTIMORE ORIOLES, SCARLET TANAGERS, and numerous Empidonax flycatchers were
tallied as well as four species of vireo - WARBLING, RED-EYED, PHILADELPHIA
and BLUE-HEADED. WILD TURKEY and RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER were two other
species that were spotted by the plethora of birders this morning. The
HARLEQUIN DUCKS, a bit boring by now, are still around. The Birding by Ear
workshop today by Terry Sprague was attended by eight birders.
The Prince Edward County Birding Festival concludes tomorrow, Sunday, May
16th. Guided bird walk along trails in the Point Traverse Woods (Prince
Edward Point) at 8:00 a.m., Art of Flight show continues this weekend, and
banding demonstrations at the Observatory. Details at www.peptbo.ca
To reach Prince Edward Point National Wildlife Area, take Main Street from
the east end of downtown Picton, down the "Town Hill", and turn immediately
right onto Union Street (directly across from Tip of the Bay Motel). Follow
Union Street out of Picton (becomes County Road 8) for 2.5 km, and at the
junction in the highway, follow County Road 17. Take County Road 17 for 6.5
km and look for the Black River Cheese sign, and turn left onto County Road
16 and follow for 1 km to the Stop sign at County Road 13. Follow County
Road 13 past Black River Cheese for 23.6 km to the Prince Edward Point
National Wildlife Area (County Road 13 eventually becomes Long Point Road).
Follow Long Point Road until you begin passing the Point Traverse Woods and
trails on the left and the Observatory a half kilometre farther along.
Terry Sprague
[email protected]
www.naturestuff.net
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