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. Please note that some sightings may require review and remain unconfirmed unless stated otherwise.
Highlights: Spring in the Kingston Area has stalled and other than the previously mentioned opening of the Rideau system, our end of Lake Ontario is still solid ice. Nothing unusual this week and just a handful of 'early' migrants have arrived. Highlights of the week include; TUNDRA SWAN, WOOD DUCK, AMERICAN WIGEON, GREEN-WINGED TEAL, CANVASBACK, GREAT BLUE HERON, TURKEY VULTURE, GOLDEN EAGLE, KILLDEER, ICELAND GULL, CAROLINA WREN, BOHEMIAN WAXWING, RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD, RUSTY BLACKBIRD, and COMMON GRACKLE. City of Kingston The only real 'change' this week is the increase in RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS and the first few COMMON GRACKLES. A KILLDEER was seen near the Tett Centre this morning (20th) and the resident PEREGRINE FALCONS were seen mating yesterday. AMERICAN WIGEON and GREEN-WINGED TEAL were again seen in the upper reaches of the Inner Harbour on 16th and a WOOD DUCK has been seen on-and-off at Portsmouth Olympic Harbour since 16th. A PIED-BILLED GREBE was seen on 14th, 15th and 17th at Invista and an ICELAND GULL was at the Wolfe Island ferry on 18th. A CAROLINA WREN was seen at Cartwright's Point on 19th. Wolfe Island A birder visiting the island on the 14th saw a KILLDEER, a single LAPLAND LONGSPUR and a male NORTHERN HARRIER, a species that has been hard to come by this winter. A NORTHERN SHRIKE was seen on 19th, one of several that have passed through/been seen in our area this week. SNOWY OWLS are getting harder to locate but a few ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS persist. Amherst Island A week ago today (13th), and too late for last week's report, a GOLDEN EAGLE was seen on the island as well as the EASTERN BLUEBIRD that continues on 2nd Concession. As on Wolfe, a solitary NORTHERN HARRIER was seen during the week (17th) as well as a KILLDEER the same day. An impressive tally of 21 ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS was matched by an equal number of RED-TAILED HAWKS. Other sightings The promise of things to come has led birders to Prince Edward County where Cressy Point seems to hold the best number of waterbirds - nothing unusual, though the first record of CANVASBACK this year was noted there this morning (20th). Prince Edward Point had a TURKEY VULTURE on 16th and 2 NORTHERN SHRIKES were seen there the same day. WOOD DUCKS continue at Springside Park in Napanee and a GREAT BLUE HERON was observed near Yarker on 14th. 36 BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS were seen on Howe Island on 15th and the regular RUSTY BLACKBIRDS have been seen all week. In order to minimise disturbance to wildlife and property, Kingston Field Naturalists has adopted the KFN Sensitive Sightings Policy <http://kingstonfieldnaturalists.org/birding/KFN_sensitive_sightings_policy. pdf> . Also note that, as requested by the landowners, sightings of owls at the privately-owned Owl Woods must not be distributed on the Internet (this includes posting as 'Amherst Island' on eBird) by KFN or anyone who visits. To ensure continued access to this location, please respect their wishes and follow the guidelines posted on-site. To maintain records for conservation purposes, sightings from that location are welcomed through all the traditional channels. As always, thanks to all those who have 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
