January 16, 2008

The PEI-Birders mailing list is a great way to get involved with birding activities on PEI. Here is the 2007 year end report.

As 2007 drew to a close, the PEI Birders List which has been in operation for 3 years had 147 members. More than just a few were from outside of the Maritime Region. Collectively, we reported 245 species in 2007. I would like to thank all of you for your help in this endeavour.

Overall the reports for the year seemed to be low. However, as the table below indicates, 2007 was very similar to 2006 in terms of the number of species reported. A number of rarities for the Island were also reported this year and many were photographed making it easier to document their presence on PEI.

Year Species
2003 236
2004 249
2005 261
2006 247
2007 245

This past year 38 species were reported on January 1st as compared to 44 in 2006, and by month's end 77 or 31% of the species reported for the year had been observed or heard. In contrast, 84 species had been reported over the same time period in 2006. By July 1st, 204 species (83%) had been reported while in contrast 211 (86%) had been reported
by that same date in 2006. Interestingly, only 24 species (10%) were reported for the first time after the first of September.

The Snowy Owl which had taken up residence by the Hillsborough Bridge continued to remain as 2007 began. Similarly, the Carolina Wrens continued their residence in Summerside (Bob Milligan). Again this past year, the Mew Gull re-appeared in Stratford. Before the month of January had ended a Pine Warbler was reported by Dwaine Oakley and a Golden Eagle was noted by John Read at Borden. The first of 3 Pileated Woodpecker reports was made in February when one was observed at Woodville Mills and the subsequent 2 observations were made at separate times later in the year in the area of Pleasant Grove. A small group of Glossy Ibis made a brief appearance in the Glenfinnan River area on the 28th of April. On May 1st, an Indigo Bunting was reported at Monticello, while a House Finch made an appearance at the feeders in Murray Harbour North on May 12th. The next day a Brown Thrasher was reported at the same location.Later that month, two additional Indigo Buntings were reported in the Charlottetown area. An Island first - a Harris's Sparrow visited the McIntyre's feeders in Corran Ban in late May. It remained for a week and was well documented and observed by a number of individuals.

The Common Moorhens returned to Allisary Creek for yet another year and were observed by a number of island birders. Upland Sandpipers were observed in three separate locales this past year, suggesting that they are slowly expanding their presence on PEI. The Island's 6th report of Red-Headed Woodpecker was made on the 6th of June by Molly Colburn in Shamrock. The only Egret reported for 2007 was a Cattle Egret which was observed by Elwood Coakes at the Dunk River Bridge on the 4th of June. On June 20th a Willow Flycatcher, a relatively rare visitor to PEI, was well documented with video and audio coverage by Dwaine Oakley. Four days later, Ray Cooke reported the the first known occurrence of Hooded Warbler on PEI when he located a female in the Ashton area.

Marbled Godwit, Curlew Sandpiper, Stilt Sandpiper, Western Sandpiper, large numbers of Red Knot, Wilson's Phalarope and Red-necked Phalarope were all interesting shorebird reports for PEI made over the extended "shorebird" season of 2007. The last identified shorebird was a Black-bellied Plover at Covehead in the PEINP on the 30th of November, although a report of an unidentified shorebird was made on the 27th of December along the north shore at St. Peter's Lake. In addition, Dwaine Oakley was able to photograph a Little Stint at Red Head Harbour mudflats on the 7th of August. The photographs are currently being studied by a number of shorebird experts courtesy of the "world wide web". Also on the 7th, Elwood Coakes reported observing a Scissor-tailed Flycatcher in North River, the 5th such report on PEI in the last two years.

PEI's fourth record of Clay-colored Sparrow was photographed by a visiting birder - Don MacNeill at Savage Harbour on the 24th of September. The same day a significant "fall-out" of sparrows was noted by David Seeler at Greenwich within the PEINP. Three days later, Don also located a Field Sparrow in the Savage Harbour area. Dwaine Oakley reported that the Island's first record of White-eyed Vireo was captured on Cameron's Island on October 10th by members of Ben Hoteling's Banding Station. This record was documented by photographs taken by Shawn Donovan. Five days later, another visiting birder, Ken McKenna reported observing the Island's 10th sighting of Orange-crowned Warbler at East Point. Cathleen Gallant was no doubt surprised and equally elated when she located a Western Kingbird (8th PEI report) at East Point on October 27th. Unfortunately it did not linger, but the group looking for it the next day did find a Yellow-billed Cuckoo at the same location. It should be mentioned that a Western Kingbird was subsequently reported in Newfoundland a day later.

Interestingly, in late November a pair of Carolina Wrens re-appeared at the same feeders in Summerside where two over-wintered last winter which raises some interesting questions. On November 26th a well documented sighting of a female Bullock's Oriole at Jim Crombie's feeder in Stratford was reported and within two days it disappeared
and one showed up at Dwaine Oakley's feeders in Stratford providing the Island with its 3rd record of that species. As the year came to a close, a very late Northern Mockingbird was reported at the Read's feeders in Clyde River. It remained for a week and then disappeared by Christmas Day. Lois Doan then reported two in Fairview on Boxing
Day demonstrating that there were some gems out there to be found. Cathleen Gallant completed the year's cycle as she reported a Snowy Owl at Covehead on the 30th of December, finishing the year as it began.

PEI is again participating in the Winter Bird List and as of this time we have reported 101 Species. Also the third season of the Maritime Breeding Bird Atlas will commence in short order as our resident owls begin to set up territories for the nesting season. If interested in participating, contact Rosemary Curley at: "rosemary Curley " .

Tomorrow begins yet another fresh start and challenge! Please remember to forward ALL sightings to the List so that an accurate record may be maintained of those species which will be observed on PEI during 2008.

Finally, and most importantly, may Elaine and I wish each and everyone of you and your families all the best for 2008!

Good Birding
David Seeler

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