Warbler sightings have been excellent this week at all of the usual birding spots. I'll give the highlights and toss in some equally interesting non-warbler observations.
The Canoe Lake Road had 8 Cerulean and 3 Golden-winged last Friday along with 10 Yellow-throated Vireos, a Yellow-billed Cuckoo, and a Broad-winged Hawk. The next day a Merlin, an E. Wood-Pewee and a Whip-poor-will were seen. The Opinicon Road, with similar habitat had similar birds; 14 Cerulean, 5 Golden-winged and 12 Yellow-throated Vireos as well as 9 Blue-gray Gnatcatchers and 2 Scarlet Tanagers on the 12th and an Indigo Bunting on the 14th. The beginning of the Rideau Trail has had an interesting mix this week. Lots and lots of warblers on the 16th and 17th with the city's first Blackpoll today. There was an Orchard Oriole and a N. Goshawk last Thursday,a Swainson's Thrush on Tuesday, 5 Scarlet Tanagers and a Sharp-shinned Hawk Wednesday. Some miscellaneous sightings included 40 Black Terns and a Ruddy Duck at the Amherstview sewage lagoons and a Blue-winged Warbler near Elginburg on the 17th. The Wilton creek near Morven had a Short-billed Dowitcher and 2 Solitary Sandpipers last Friday. From Howe Island another Orchard Oriole and a pair of Red-bellied Woodpeckers last Thursday. Amherst Island has had some good birds despite the fact that many Kingston birders spend a lot of time at Prince Edward Point this time of year. Last Friday the Owl Woods was alive with warblers including Magnolia, Blackburnian and a Wilson's. A Philadelphia Vireo was seen on Sunday and 2 Yellow-bellied Flycatchers today. On the KFN property shorebirds are improving in variety; an Am. Golden-Plover last Saturday, a Black-bellied Plover, 11 Semipalmated Plover and 17 Dunlin on Sunday, a Short-billed Dowitcher on Tuesday and a Ruddy Turnstone today. Also on the KFN land a Merlin and a flock of 60 (six zero) goslings last Sunday and today a Eurasian Wigeon with 6 Am. Wigeon. The KFN does their annual 24 hour spring round-up this weekend so with any luck and good weather there should be lots to talk about next week. Cheers, Peter Good Kingston Field Naturalists 613 378-6605 .
