The KFN did their annual spring roundup this past weekend and tallied 167 species. There were lots of warblers and vireos though nothing rare. The shorebird migration was evident but not really in high gear; maybe this week. Highlights included a pair of Least Bitterns "singing" a duet in Collin's Creek, Barred Owls calling all over the place up the Canoe Lake Road, a pair of Common Nighthawks in Yarker, and an Olive-sided Flycatcher on Amherst Island.
Last Sunday a fisherman on Collin's Lake noted 2 Common Nighthawks and 33 Black Terns hawking insects over the water. Tuesday saw a huge movement of Brant; 1200 crossing the 401 near Westbrook, 800 near Amherst Island, and 3000 north of Kingston on the Westport Road. This was in sharp contrast to the weekend when we only managed to find a half dozen or so grazing with some Canadas on Amherst. Also on Tuesday there were 3 Whimbrel on Amherst one of which had the characteristics of the Eurasian subspecies. Interestingly one of these birds was reported exactly 38 years ago on May 24, 1969 in a flock of 130 on Amherst Island. Yesterday there was still a good variety of shorebirds on the KFN property, and warblers in the Owl Woods but neither in large numbers. However the woods were full of thrushes; the resident Wood Thrushes were singing, almost every fallen log was a perch for a Swainson's (there were over a dozen) and 3 Gray-cheeked were seen as well. Also on Wednesday another 80 Brant near Bath and a N. Mockingbird in Amherstview. Cheers, Peter Good Kingston Field Naturalists 613 378-6605
