Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory

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FALL 2010

WEEKLY OBSERVATION REPORTS

Aug 27th –Sept 2nd

DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT numbers are picking up with 6000+ being seen coming to roost on the offshore shoal. The number of waterfowl in the harbour has been decreasing since the weed has washed away, CANADA GEESE now number 60-70 and MALLARDS 60-70. An AMERICAN GREEN-WINGED TEAL was seen on the 30th, as were the first 4 WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS of the fall. An OSPREY has been seen around the harbour most days, a few SHARP-SHINNED HAWKS are staring to move with up to 15 in a day being seen, a NORTHERN GOSHAWK flew over on the 28th and BROAD-WINGED HAWKS are numbering around 15 a day with one being trapped on the 2nd. The only shorebirds this week were KILLDEER, SPOTTED SANDPIPERS, 3 LESSER YELLOWLEGS on the 28th and a single LEAST SANDPIPER on the 28th.A GREAT-HORNED OWL was seen on the 30th and COMMON NIGHTHAWKS continue to move with up to 15 in a night going over. Two BELTED KINGFISHERS are constantly arguing in the harbour over fishing rights and two PILEATED WOODPECKERS were beating up the trees on the 27th. Flycatchers are still trickling through with all the usual species present during the week including the occasional EASTERN KINGBIRD. RED-EYED VIREOS are still moving in good numbers with 10-25 a day being seen along with occasional PHILADELPHIA’S and WARBLING VIREOS. Most of the swallows have gone but a handful of BARN SWALLOWS are still being seen. The occasional WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH puts in an appearance and RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES are increasing with up to 10 being seen daily. The first GREY-CHEEKED THRUSH of the fall arrived on the 30th and was still present the next day, Three unmoulted adult HERMIT THRUSHES were banded on the 27th but have not been seen since and up to 10 SWAINSON’S THRUSHES have been recorded daily. 18 species of warbler have been recorded this week but numbers of each species has been low, best warbler during the week was a CAPE MAY on the 2nd. A SCARLET TANAGER was seen on the 31st. BOBOLINK numbers have been low this week peaking at only 20 back on the 27th, otherwise 10 to 15 a day is more usual. A PURPLE FINCH was seen on the 27th and a HOUSE FINCH on the 29th.

Aug 20th –26th

Things have really picked up at the Observatory since last week. COMMON LOONS were seen moving on the 23rd and 25th, 4 GREAT BLUE HERONS were seen in the harbour on the 25th. 4 BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERONS that flew into the harbour at dusk on the 25th were only the 4th fall record. CANADA GEESE have been increasing and numbered 177 in the harbour on the 25th. Up to 220 MALLARDS are being seen daily and 2-4 BLUE-WINGED TEALS can usually be seen amongst them. An OSPREY went over on the 25th and BALD EAGLES are being seen regularly, 11 BROAD-WINGED HAWKS flew over on the 26th and a female MERLIN is being seen daily. 6 LESSER YELLOWLEGS flew down the harbour on the 23rd, SPOTTED SANDPIPERS are being seen daily and 3 LEAST SANDPIPERS were found on the 26th. 8 BONAPARTE’S GULLS were seen offshore on the 24th and a COMMON TERN flew over on the 21st calling noisily. BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO’S are still present and a recently fledged young bird was trapped on the 24th along with its mum. Late August is also the time for COMMON NIGHTHAWKS to move and 11 were seen on the 24th and 63 passed over in three flocks on the 25th. 2 OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHERS were seen on the 24th and the first EASTERN WOOD PEWEE was noted on the 21st. A small influx of flycatchers on the 26th included 15 YELLOW-BELLIED and 6 LEAST. The first PHILADELPHIA VIREO of the fall was trapped on the 24th and at least 20 RED-EYED VIREOS were seen on the 26th. A few BLUE JAYS, numbering at least 25 were seen on the 25th and start the fall migration of that species. On the 24th a movement of swallows included 100 TREE SWALLOWS, 25 PURPLE MARTINS, 40 NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOWS, 80 BANK SWALLOWS, 40 CLIFF SWALLOWS and at least 300 BARN SWALLOWS, a CHIMNEY SWIFT that blundered into a net was banded and is new to the all time fall banding list. CEDAR WAXWING numbers are increasing and 120 were seen on the 25th. Firsts for the fall were BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLERS, BLACKPOLL WARBLERS and OVENBIRDS on the 24th. BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLERS first started really moving on the 24th when 15 were noted with at least 10 seen the following day. An arrival on the 26th saw the first thrushes of the fall with 5 VEERY and 4 SWAINSON’S being trapped. Also seen were 18 species of warbler, including 7 TENNESSEE, 11 NASHVILLE, 15 CHESTNUT-SIDED, 60 MAGNOLIAS, 15 BLACK-THROATED BLUES, 20 BLACKPOLLS, 15 BLACK-AND-WHITES, 40 AMERICAN REDSTARTS, 12 WILSON’S and 7 CANADA’S. After a quiet, wet and windy start to the week BOBOLINKS moved in earnest on the 24th and 25th when 96 and 131 were trapped, estimates for those two days were 200 and 250 seen. 10 BALTIMORE ORIOLES were seen on the 21st and PURPLE FINCHES have been seen twice this week. Bird of the week was a GLOSSY IBIS that was seen on the 23rd for about 5 minutes among the loafing MALLARDS on a shingle spit at the entrance to the harbour, it was preening itself and it did not stay long, disappearing when the MALLARDS were flushed by something.

Aug 11th –19th

The Observatory has now opened for the fall and migration has just about started and, as is usual in early August, it’s been slow. A GREAT BLUE HERON has been frequenting the harbour area daily as has up to 220 MALLARDS and a handful of AMERICAN BLACK DUCKS. Joining them on the 18th were three BLUE-WINGED TEALS. A young BALD EAGLE flew over on the 16th and a couple of SHARP-SHINNED HAWKS have been seen, as were two BROAD-WINGED HAWKS. KILLDEERS, LESSER YELLOWLEGS and up Lesser Yellowlegs to 5 LEAST SANDPIPERS have been seen on the mud near the entrance to the harbour. A couple of SPOTTED SANDPIPERS round out the shorebirds seen. The local BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO’S are being seen daily, COMMON NIGHTHAWKS have started to move with one seen on the 16th and four on the 18th. Up to six RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRDS are being seen on the feeders and a recently vacated nest was found near the banding lab. A few flycatchers have been seen with LEAST, YELLOW-BELLIED AND TRAILL’S being seen in small numbers. WARBLING AND RED-EYED VIREOS have started to appear, a COMMON RAVEN has been seen almost daily. RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES were seen on the 16th and 19th. 16 species of warbler have been seen this week, regular early migrants included NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH, MOURNING, CANADA, YELLOW AND BLACK AND WHITE, are being found. An early MYRTLE was seen on the 18th and TENNESSEE, NASHVILLE, BAY-BREASTED, BLACKBURNIAN, WILSON’S and AMERICAN REDSTARTS are showing up. The BOBOLINK program has started up again and over 120 have been banded so far. An ORCHARD ORIOLE banded on the 12th was the first one ever banded in a fall. Just up the road, the BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING DUCK is still to be found on the ponds south of Milford. Lastly a GREAT EGRET with red wing tags was seen flying past the point on the evening of the 18th.

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