The first week of June, although well past the peak of songbird migration, is often an excellent time to see large numbers of shorebirds on their way to nesting grounds in the Arctic. The bar on Amherst Island hosts many of these birds but the numbers of birds and mixture of species changes several times a day. On Monday there were 30 Semipalmated Sandpiper, 15 Dunlin, 20 Ruddy Turnstone, and 2 Sanderling. There are several pair of breeding Wilson's Phalarope on the KFN property.
Four Common Terns were noted as well; despite their name these terns are not nearly as easy to find in the Kingston area as Caspian or Black. A few lingering diving ducks were off Amherst including 4 Greater Scaup and a single Ringed-necked Duck. The last report I received mentioned a pair of Purple Finches regularly visiting a feeder near Elginburg. Breeding is suspected but so far no nest has been located. I will put off doing these weekly reports from Kingston until the fall migration begins in earnest. (Given the turnaround time for some of the shorebirds, that may be only a few weeks away.) Have a great summer! Cheers, Peter Good 613 378-6605
