[Ontbirds]Quinte Area Bird Report for week ending January 31, 2008

[Terry Sprague]

WEEKLY BIRD REPORT FROM PRINCE EDWARD COUNTY AND THE QUINTE AREA FOR THE 
WEEK ENDING Thursday, January 31, 2008


While sightings of more summery type birds this past week suggests warmer 
weather in the offing, tomorrow's predicted weather could very well put a 
damper on their premature enthusiasm. A FOX SPARROW turned up at a feeder 
during the week in the west end of Belleville, and at Cape Vesey in Prince 
Edward County, a WHITE-THROATED SPARROW has been heard singing at least 
twice this past week. A YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER is still making periodic 
visits to a feeder in Wooler, appropriately enough, at The Birdhouse store 
operated by Connie Crowe. NORTHERN FLICKERS (2) were seen January 26th along 
County Road 13 in the South Bay area and another has been visiting a feeder 
at the east end of Picton. HORNED LARKS (12) were seen along Wesley Acres 
Road on the 22nd, probably the only real true harbinger of spring since they 
are expected to arrive anyway in about two weeks as one of our earlier 
spring migrants.

Meanwhile, it's business as usual at bird feeders and beyond. COMMON 
REDPOLLS are still holding their own at local feeders with 50 being the 
norm, while at Stirling a flock of 200 continues to pillage the countryside 
as it has since early in the season. Six BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS stopped briefly 
at 23 Sprague Road, seemingly interested in the action below at the feeders, 
but continuing on their way. Another 25 showed on Saturday, near the Prince 
Edward Point Bird Observatory. BLUE JAYS have been reported in high numbers 
at some feeders with 23 at a feeding station on Green Point Road beside the 
Quinte Skyway Bridge, and more than 30 most days at a Big Island feeder. One 
feeder at Allisonville is enjoying good numbers from several species 
including up to 20 BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEES, 4 NORTHERN CARDINALS, at least 4 
DOWNY WOODPECKERS, 30 or more DARK-EYED JUNCOS, 50 COMMON REDPOLLS and a 
half dozen HOUSE FINCHES, the latter species absent at many locations this 
winter. RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES, a species more common than usual at local 
bird feeders this winter, have been reported at a Low Street feeder in 
Picton, Consecon Lake area, Harmony Road at Thurlow, and one is coming to a 
feeder on Ventress Road in Salem, west of Brighton. Also at Salem, a BARRED 
OWL flew across the bottom of Little Lake Road.

With feeder success, also comes the success of hawks lurking not far away. 
One Ridge Road resident near Bloomfield had a bitter sweet experience when 
all three members of the Accipiter family dropped in for a visit - 
SHARP-SHINNED, COOPER'S and a NORTHERN GOSHAWK, as well as RED-TAILED HAWK 
that perched in a cherry tree for two hours while BLUE JAYS gathered on 
branches above it.  What was probably a NORTHERN GOSHAWK also showed up not 
far away, on May Road.  A RED-TAILED HAWK was also seen along County Road 2 
during the week. NORTHERN HARRIERS, a species rather rare in the region 
during winter months in former years, seem to be turning up more frequently 
with each passing winter. In addition to an individual which is more or less 
a regular in the Big Island area, one was seen on Wesley Acres Road in the 
Bloomfield area on the 22nd, and another west of Brighton. A NORTHERN SHRIKE 
was seen on the 26th just past the Ducks Dive Charters and Cottages on Long 
Point Road, and a BALD EAGLE was seen today flying along the shore of Prince 
Edward Bay.

High winds (clocked at 120 km/h. at Point Petre) yesterday were a bit too 
much for an 18-wheeler that flipped on its side on the Norris Whitney 
Bridge, at Belleville, closing the bridge for two hours. However, 50 WILD 
TURKEYS at their usual stomping grounds at the Sidney Street location north 
of the 401 at Belleville, braved the high winds, although keeping close to 
the shelter of the woods. One BLUE JAY in difficulty at a Sprague Road 
feeder was observed attempting to fly off, only to be caught up in the wind 
and was instantly spread-eagled against the house. After falling 
ignominiously to the ground, the bird recovered and disappeared into the 
howling gales.

While gale force winds may have loosened up some of the ice, colder weather 
kept much of it intact over the past week. Wellington Harbour fluctuates 
according to the whims of winter. Last week, the harbour was completely 
frozen over except for the cove in behind the restaurant beside the 
government wharf. Consequently, numbers were but a fraction of what they 
would otherwise be, but in amongst the singles of COMMON GOLDENEYE, CANADA 
GOOSE, MALLARD and 45 or so MUTE SWANS were the two TRUMPETER SWANS - 
Numbers 044 and 052 that have apparently settled in for the winter. In spite 
of total ice cover on Adolphus Reach at Adolphustown, 2 MUTE SWANS 
nevertheless landed on the ice near Bayshore Road there this week.

And as if to remind us that winter is still here, several reports of SNOW 
BUNTINGS came in with two of the larger flocks involving 25 individuals 
along Gardenville Road south of Carrying Place and 30 along County Road 2, 
north of Wellington.

And that's it for this week from Prince Edward County and the Quinte area. 
Our thanks to Donald McClure, Brian & Gloria Durell, Connie Crowe, Fred 
Chandler, Kathy Felkar, Brenda Deans, Doug & Evelyn Sloane, Cathie Stewart, 
Cheryl Anderson, Sophia Huyer, Ted Cullin, David Bree, Fiona King, Bill Hogg 
and Donn Legate for their contributions to this week's report. This report 
will be updated on Thursday, February 7th, but sightings can be e-mailed any 
time before the 6:00 p.m. Thursday deadline. Featured photos in the online 
edition of the Quinte Area Bird Report include the Belleville FOX SPARROW 
courtesy of Brenda & Tony Deans, and a head and shoulders shot of a 
RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH by Dave Bell of Belleville. Photo on the Main Birding 
Page of the NatureStuff website of the flock of 200 COMMON REDPOLLS in 
Stirling is by Cathie Stewart.


Terry Sprague
Prince Edward County
tsprague at kos.net
www.naturestuff.net