Kingston Field Naturalists (KFN) maintains records in a 50km radius of MacDonald Park, Kingston. Birders already using eBird are encouraged to share their sightings with 'Kingston FN'. Alternatively, please email, phone or post records directly to me - contact details below. Note: some sightings may require review and remain unconfirmed unless stated otherwise.
Highlights: The birding this week has certainly turned up greater numbers of winter migrants though late warblers, thrushes and sparrows are still being seen. Highlights of the week include; SNOW GOOSE, BRANT, CACKLING GOOSE, TRUMPETER SWAN, ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK, SANDHILL CRANE, STILT SANDPIPER, LITTLE GULL, FORSTER'S TERN, WHITE-EYED VIREO, CAROLINA WREN, NELSON'S SPARROW and PINE GROSBEAK. City of Kingston Waterfowl have been increasing in Cataraqui Bay with REDHEAD, GREATER SCAUP and COMMON GOLDENEYE now easy to find. On the northern side of the road (Marshlands CA), GADWALL, AMERICAN WIGEON, NORTHERN PINTAIL, RING-NECKED DUCK and LESSER SCAUP predominate in the shallower water. Out on the lake, WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS have been noted with 20 seen off Portsmouth Olympic Harbour this afternoon (17th). ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS (2) were again seen downtown (10th) and HERMIT THRUSHES have been fairly widespread. A SWAINSON'S THRUSH and a late PHILADELPHIA VIREO were seen at Lemoine Point CA on 10th. A PIED-BILLED GREBE and the first BUFFLEHEAD of the season (2) were also seen there on 11th. A CAROLINA WREN was heard singing at Cartwright Point on 16th and an adult and immature PEREGRINE FALCON were seen downtown, also on 16th. Wolfe Island Big Sandy Bay Conservation Area produced a relatively late GREY-CHEEKED THRUSH on 10th as well as the more expected SWAINSON'S and HERMIT THRUSHES. 80 RUSTY BLACKBIRDS and 35 PINE SISKINS were also recorded. On Button Bay, 2 TRUMPETER SWANS were seen the same day. Amherst Island A CAROLINA WREN, seen on 10th on South Shore Road, is a good record for the island. A NELSON'S SPARROW was seen at Martin Edwards Reserve on 16th, and a STILT SANDPIPER was present there on 13th, along with BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER, DUNLIN, GREATER & LESSER YELLOWLEGS, PECTORAL SANDPIPER and KILLDEER. A SEMI-PALMATED PLOVER was present on 16th. Good numbers of BLACK DUCK have also been present this week, and BUFFLEHEAD, RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS, GREATER SCAUP, WHITE-WINGED SCOTER and HORNED GREBE have all been seen. An adult PEREGRINE was seen off the South Shore on 13th. Good numbers of AMERICAN PIPIT, PURPLE FINCH and PINE SISKIN can be found at various locations on the island. Please note that you must be a member of the Kingston Field Naturalists (KFN) or be accompanied by a member to access the Martin Edwards Reserve. Mike Burrell will be leading an OFO trip to the island on Sunday 19th (see http://www.ofo.ca/site/tripsupcoming for more details). Amherstview Sewage Lagoons BONAPARTE'S GULLS continue to be seen in good numbers but waterfowl remain scarce. However, a couple of BLUE-WINGED TEAL were seen there on 13th amongst the many GREEN-WINGED TEAL and NORTHERN SHOVELER. Just east of the lagoons, on Golf Course Lane, a 'blue' SNOW GOOSE was seen on 13th. Please note that you must be a member of KFN or otherwise obtain permission from the municipality to access the lagoons. Prince Edward Point The first AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS of the season were seen on 12th, though continuing sightings of LITTLE GULLS are certainly noteworthy: 2 on 13th, 1 on 14th. A ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK was seen on 11th. Stateside - Jefferson County, NY Two CACKLING GEESE and 3 RED-THROATED LOONS were seen at Robert Wehle State Park on 12th as well as 3 HORNED GREBES and 2 RED-NECKED GREBES. A FORSTER'S TERN was seen at Dexter Marsh, also on 12th. Other Sightings At the northern edge of the area, a WHITE-EYED VIREO was reported near Westport on 12th and again on 16th. Also seen there yesterday (West Lake Road) were 4 SANDHILL CRANES (still present today) and 2 RED-NECKED GREBES. A NASHVILLE WARBLER was seen there today but the inclement weather failed to reveal any sign of the vireo. A TRUMPETER SWAN was today seen on Chaffey's Locks. East of the city, near Camden East, 200 BRANT were seen on 10th but no further sightings have yet come in from our area. Near Verona, a PINE GROSBEAK was noted on 11th. In order to minimise disturbance to wildlife and property, the KFN Executive will no longer be reporting owl sightings via the Internet. To maintain records for conservation purposes, sightings are welcomed through all the normal channels. As always, thanks to all those who submitted sightings over the last week. Mark. Mark D. Read 47 Ellerbeck Street, Unit 1, Kingston, Ontario K7L 4H5 Canada Mobile: +1 (613) 217-1246 Email: [email protected] Blog: "Confessions of a Global Birder" http://markdread.blogspot.com <http://markdread.blogspot.com/> Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/markdread/ eBird Guidelines for Reporting Sensitive Species <http://help.ebird.org/customer/portal/articles/1006789-guidelines-for-repor ting-sensitive-species> _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to [email protected] For information about ONTBIRDS including how to unsubscribe visit http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdssetup Posting guidelines can be found at http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdsguide
