This is the Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory report for the week of September 21 to September 27, courtesy of David Okines, Bander in Charge.
A few CANADA GEESE were moving on the 24th (65) and 27th (200), 2 AMERICAN BLACK DUCKS seen on the 21st were new for the fall. WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS were seen on the 24th (7) and 27th (1) and up to 12 COMMON MERGANSERS have been seen near the lighthouse. The semi-resident OSPREY has been around the harbour all week and a migrant one flew over on the 23rd. Raptor numbers have been low all week but included a NORTHERN GOSHAWK on the 25th and a female PEREGRINE FALCON on the 26th. Three LESSER YELLOWLEGS were seen on the 25th and Single SOLITARY SANDPIPERS were seen on the 21st and 22nd. MOURNING DOVES increased to 16 on the 21st. The EASTERN SCREECH OWL has been heard occasionally during the week and NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWLS are starting to trickle through with 30 on the 24th being the peak, but we have had several nights without any being seen. A RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD has been seen most days at the feeder. YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKERS are now moving and peak counts during the week were 25 on the 24th and 20 on the 27th. NORTHERN FLICKERS have picked up and peaked at 15 on the 24th with a flicker intergrade being banded on the 25th. The only flycatchers this week were EASTERN WOOD-PEWEES and EASTERN PHOEBE with the latter peaking at 12 on the 27th. Forty BLUE-HEADED VIREOS were observed on the 24th and 30 were counted on the 27th, only a small handful of RED-EYED VIREOS were present all week apart from 20 on the 24th. BLUE JAYS continued to move with most days seeing over a 1000 a day going over, the peak count was 2000 on the 22nd. A single TREE SWALLOW was seen on the 23rd. BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEES continue to be present in good numbers with up to 20 a day being seen. RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES are another species still being seen in good numbers and up to 25 a day are being seen. BROWN CREEPERS are starting to appear and 15 were counted on the 24th. HOUSE WRENS are still being seen and WINTER WRENS numbered 7 on the 24th. RUBY and GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS numbers are building and 40 of each were observed on the 27th. VEERYS continue to trickle through but SWAINSON’S and GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSHES are starting to increase, with GRAY-CHEEKS peaking at 40 on the 24th and SWAINSON’S at 55 on that same day. HERMIT THRUSHES are also starting to pick up and 13 were observed on the 27th. The variety of warblers continues and 19 species were observed during the week. 1-2 TENNESSEE’S were seen almost daily and ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS were seen on the 24th and 27th. NORTHERN PARULAS were noted on the 22nd and 26th, BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLERS are now moving and 80 were counted on the 27th, YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS are trickling through with a peak of 65 on the 24th, the 27th held at least 30 BLACK-THROATED GREENS in the area. A late NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH was banded on the 26th. Last week’s HOODED WARBLER was retrapped again on the 21st. A mid morning arrival of CHIPPING SPARROWS took place on the 27th when 50 were seen on the lawn, among them were at least 40 DARK-EYED JUNCOS. Single SWAMP SPARROWS were seen on the 24th and 26th and WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS peaked at 15 on the 24th, the first WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW of the fall was trapped on the 27th. One or two ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAKS are still being seen and this fall’s only INDIGO BUNTING so far, was seen on the 22nd. Icterids have been scarce but the first 2 RUSTY BLACKBIRDS flew over on the 27th. Finches are continuing in good numbers with PURPLE FINCHES peaking at 40 on the 24th, PINE SISKINS peaked at 65 on the 27th and AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES peaked at 1000 on the 22nd. Elsewhere around Prince Edward County, a GREAT EGRET roost is being monitored at Indian Island in the middle of the Bay of Quinte near Trenton where a high of 78 GREAT EGRETS were counted on September 26th. The egrets can be viewed through a spotting scope from shore. At Goodrich-Loomis Conservation Area, north of Brighton, 4 WINTER WRENS, PILEATED WOODPECKER and RED-TAILED HAWK were among the species seen there on the 23rd. 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/
