Yet another pair of HARLEQUIN DUCKS were reported this week off Prince Edward Point on March 18. This past week the list of returning migrants continued to grow and included widespread sightings of species such as WOOD DUCK, COMMON LOON, GREAT BLUE HERON, AMERICAN KESTREL, WILSON'S SNIPE, NORTHERN FLICKER, EASTERN PHOEBE, TREE SWALLOW, GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET, WINTER WREN and EASTERN MEADOWLARK. RED-SHOULDERED HAWKS had taken up territories all over the Frontenac Arch north of the city. The first female RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS arrived. Some resident species, such as WILD TURKEY, were displaying in earnest and BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEES having begun excavating nesting cavities. There have been a sprinkling of PINE SISKINS and PURPLE FINCHES (many of which are singing) across the region. Almost all of the ice in the backcountry lakes disappeared last week, making waterfowl rather dispersed.
City of Kingston Several SNOW GEESE flew over the Ducks Unlimited pond at the intersection of Highway 38 and the 401. DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS were reported on the Cataraqui River and Lake Ontario. Bath The usual waterfowl remain visible along the Bath Road shoreline. Also reported from the area were 2 DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS, 1 NORTHERN HARRIER, 2 AMERICAN KESTRELS, 1 SNOWY OWL and the usual early migrant landbirds. Bedford Mills The long-staying FIELD SPARROW was reported this week but the rusty blackbird was not. Opinicon Road There was a good concentration of waterbirds at Chaffey's Lock all week including 2 TRUMPETER SWANS, WOOD DUCK, AMERICAN BLACK DUCK, AMERICAN WIGEON, several hundred RING-NECKED DUCKS, BUFFLEHEAD, COMMON GOLDENEYE, COMMON MERGANSER and HOODED MERGANSER. BALD EAGLE numbers are down, but the odd one can still be seen along the road. A MERLIN and an EASTERN BLUEBIRD flew over Queen's University Biological Station (QUBS). A RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER was at a feeder in Chaffey's Lock. BARRED OWLS and BROWN CREEPERS could be heard singing all over the countryside. One PINE SISKIN and 1 PURPLE FINCH joined the AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES at the QUBS feeders. Prince Edward Point In addition to the aforementioned HARLEQUIN DUCKS there was 1 WHITE-WINGED SCOTER and 1 NORTHERN SHRIKE on the Point. Wolfe Island Among the newest arrivals at Wolfe Island last week were WOOD DUCK, NORTHERN PINTAIL, GREEN-WINGED TEAL, RING-NECKED DUCK, TURKEY VULTURE, KILLDEER and EASTERN MEADOWLARK. Winter birds such as ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK, SNOWY OWL and AMERICAN TREE SPARROW were also reported. Other Sightings Narrows Lock had a fair number of waterfowl including 50 RING-NECKED DUCKS among other species. A BALD EAGLE was also reported there. An EASTERN BLUEBIRD was along Perth Road south of Westport. The first SWAMP SPARROW of the year was reported in Elginburg. Thank you to those who contributed observations this week. All bird sightings reported to me are included in the Kingston Field Naturalists’ long term records database which has over 60 years of observations on file and is an invaluable conservation resource. Mark -- Mark Andrew Conboy Operations & Research Assistant and Outreach Coordinator Queen’s University Biological Station 280 Queen's University Road Elgin, Ontario, Canada K0G 1E0 phone: 613-359-5629 fax: 613-359-6558 email: [email protected] or [email protected] QUBS website: http://www.queensu.ca/qubs/index.html QUBS blog: http://opinicon.wordpress.com/ QUBS flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/qubsoutreach/ _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to [email protected] For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
