Since my last report in early June there have been a few noteworthy sightings in the Kingston area; some rarities, some anomalies, and in the last week a significant movement of shorebirds and the beginnings of the passerine migration.
The best birds of the summer; a Sandhill Crane near Sydenham on June 10th, a Black Vulture on the 401 at the Joyceville Road on June 14th, and a White-crowned Sparrow on Amherst Island on July 14th. Only two Red-headed Woodpeckers were seen; one near Bath and another on Simcoe Island. Waterfowl produced most of the not-to-be-expected sightings. A lone white phase Snow Goose was on Amherst from June 9th to July 29th and four more were on Wolfe Island on July 27th. Two Brant were on Amherst from August 5th to 7th. A female Bufflehead has been in the Amherstview sewage lagoons since July 17th as has a Ruddy Duck since July 29th. A Canvasback, July 14th to 17th, 2 Redheads and a Common Merganser with 5 young on July 17th were also seen on Amherst Island. A male Eurasian Wigeon was seen near Howe Island on July 16th; maybe the same bird that overwintered and was seen infrequently this spring. Osprey nestings have been widespread and for the most part successful, however two were found dead near the school on Amherst Island and another was electrocuted on Wolfe Island. Several reports of Red-breasted Nuthatches since August 15th, a few warblers including Blackburnian, Black and White, Redstart and Ovenbird as well as an Olive-sided Flycatcher near Elginburg yesterday show that passerines are starting to move. Shorebird migration began locally with two Lesser Yellowlegs at the Amherstview sewage lagoons on June 24th. A Greater Yellowlegs and a Least Sandpiper were found the next day. The first Short-billed Dowitcher arrived on July 8th, then a Stilt and 2 Solitary on the 15th and a Semipalmated Sandpiper on the 19th. Baird's Sandpiper and Black-bellied Plover arrived on August 7th and 3 Semipalmated Plover on August 14th. The first Pectoral of the year was seen on August 15th and on the 19th there were 160 shorebirds (13 species) on the KFN property on Amherst Island including 2 Sanderling and a Red-necked Phalarope. In closing a word about access to birding sites: - The Amherstview sewage lagoons have always been marked no trespassing but birders have been tolerated until recently when several have been asked to leave. - The liability insurance that the KFN carries on their Amherst Island property at the east end of the island covers only KFN members and their guests. It is not open to the general public. -The Owl Woods is open to everyone. Cheers, Peter Good Kingston Field Naturalists 613 378-6605 _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list [email protected] For instructions to join or leave ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/ontbirdshow.htm ONTBIRDS Guidelines may be viewed at http://www.ofo.ca/ontbirdsguide.htm
