This is the Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory report for the week of September 07 to September 13, courtesy of David Okines, Bander in Charge.
Three COMMON LOONS flew over on the 10th, while offshore the number of DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS being seen daily, varies between 3 and 10 thousand. A GREEN HERON was seen flying over on the 12th. A few CANADA GEESE were moving on the 9th and 10th and MALLARDS around the harbour increased to 23 on the 11th and two male WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS flew over on the 10th. An OSPREY has been seen around the harbour all week and up to 7 BALD EAGLES a day are being noted. SHARP-SHINNED HAWKS are starting to increase and peaked at 12 on the 10th,. Other raptor migration has been slow but the only AMERICAN KESTREL of the month was seen on the 12th. Apart from the occasional SPOTTED or SOLITARY SANDPIPER, shorebirds on the ground have been non-existent; however, a few flyovers have been seen including 7 SANDERLING on the 11th, 2 BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPERS on the 9th (only the 11th record for here) and 12 HUDSONIAN GODWITS also on the 9th. Only one COMMON NIGHTHAWK was seen this week, on the 10th. Flycatchers have almost all gone with just EASTERN WOOD-PEWEES and EASTERN PHOEBES left to move through. BLUE-HEADED VIREOS numbered 10 on the 7th, and a late WARBLING VIREO was seen on the 10th. BLUE JAY migration has started, with the first real movement occurring on the 11th when 350 were seen with 400 moving the next day. RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES numbered 20 on the 10th and a WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH was seen on the 12th. The first BROWN CREEPER of the fall was banded on the 7th with another being seen on the 10th. RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS arrived on the 9th and 10th and will increase during the next week or so. A handful of thrushes was seen during the week with a peak count of 15 SWAINSON’S THRUSHES on the 7th. Eighteen species of warblers were noted during the week. No real movements took place but peak counts were made of 12 MAGNOLIAS on the 12th, 10 BLACKPOLLS on the 11th and 12th and 11 BLACK-THROATED BLUES on the 10th. Interesting warblers were CAPE MAY on the 11th, a BLACKBURNIAN on the 9th and a PINE on the 11th. Three different SCARLET TANAGERS were seen in the same tree during the morning of the 12th, two LINCOLN’S SPARROWS were seen on the 9th and WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS are becoming more regular. Ten to 20 PURPLE FINCHES are being seen daily and the first PINE SISKIN of the fall was seen on the 11th. AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES are definitely moving with over 750 being banded during the week. The peak daily counts were 300 on the 11th and 400 on the 12th. Our annual fall fundraising dinner is only 5 weeks away. Ron Tozer is our guest speaker. Please see our website for details (www.peptbo.ca). Elsewhere around Prince Edward County, 13 GREAT EGRETS were present this morning in a cove at Peat’s Point, just south of Belleville. A BARRED OWL was seen at Lake on the Mountain yesterday, and a BALD EAGLE flew over the same lake yesterday. Some distance east of Lake on the Mountain, near Bongard’s Crossroad, a well described SUMMER TANAGER was seen on the 6th. For birding news around the Prince Edward County area, be sure to click on BIRDING/QUINTE AREA BIRD REPORT from the Main Menu of my website. Prince Edward County is situated south of Belleville and Trenton. There are five access points – C.R. 64 from Brighton, Highway 33 at Carrying Place, Highway 62 at Belleville, Highway 49 at Deseronto, and Highway 33 at Glenora. To reach Prince Edward Point, take County Road 10 from Picton to Cherry Valley and Milford, then C.R. 13 at South Bay to Prince Edward Point. 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 [email protected] For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
