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: There has been an increasing number and diversity of waterfowl this week, with a few shorebirds hanging in there to add variety. Warblers are down, sparrows are up - winter is coming. Highlights of the week include BRANT, EURASIAN WIGEON, GOLDEN EAGLE, NORTHERN GOSHAWK, HUDSONIAN GODWIT, WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER, LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL, and NELSON'S SPARROW Kingston A SURF SCOTER (rare for the city) has taken up temporary residence off Portsmouth Olympic harbour and the Inner Harbour is now hosting a couple of RUDDY DUCKS, RING-NECKED DUCKS (20) and good numbers of AMERICAN COOT (150). A GREEN HERON was still lingering there on 14th. Wolfe Island An adult NORTHERN GOSHAWK was seen near Button Bay on 16th and 2 AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVERS were present in Reed's Bay the same day. In Button Bay itself, TUNDRA SWANS were first noted on 14th when 113 were counted. Also present the same day was a single CACKLING GOOSE. Numbers of dabbling and diving ducks are beginning to increase, with 158 GREEN-WINGED TEAL counted there today (16th), with lesser numbers of REDHEAD, GREATER SCAUP, RING-NECKED DUCK and NORTHERN PINTAIL. A small flock of BRANT was seen near Marysville on 14th. Amherst Island Last week's HUDSONIAN GODWITS continued this week at Martin Edwards Reserve with 2 birds seen there on 12th and 1 on 15th. Also seen on the 12th were a male EURASIAN WIGEON, a somewhat unusual (for the location) SURF SCOTER and a NELSON'S SPARROW. On 15th, an immature LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL was seen near the tip and 240 BRANT were observed flying offshore. Rather bizarrely, a RING-NECKED PHEASANT was also seen on the reserve but more typical for the time of year was our first LAPLAND LONGSPUR. WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPERS (4) were seen on 12th but not since. DUNLIN remain in reasonable numbers (approx. 20) and 3 SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS were still present today. Please note that you must be a member of Kingston Field Naturalists (KFN) or be accompanied by a member to access the Martin Edwards Reserve. Prince Edward County Northern Saw-whet Owl banding continues at Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory. Sixty-seven birds were banded on the night of 14-15th but this week has been generally hit-and-miss. A BLACK SCOTER was seen near the lighthouse on 12th, and a PEREGRINE FALCON was seen passing over the observatory the same morning. A relatively late OSPREY was seen there on 10th. on 6th. Good numbers of SHARP-SHINNED HAWKS are also moving through as well as the odd COOPERS HAWK. Banding is slowing down at the observatory but now is the time to pay an evening visit if you wish to see Saw-whet Owls being banded; 16 were banded on the evening of 5th. The only ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER of the week was seen at the observatory on 6th. Other sightings A GOLDEN EAGLE was seen at Gananoque on 10th and 3 SNOW GEESE were seen nearby. On Washburn Road, near Sunbury, a flock of 50 BRANT was seen this morning (16th). At the same location 2 PINE SISKINS and a couple of PURPLE FINCHES were also seen - indicative of things to come perhaps. Please note that the ferry situation continues in our area and the expected return date of the Wolfe Islander is now 'unknown'. This means that the Wolfe Island, Amherst Island and Glenora ferries continue run at half capacity. Unfortunately, Amherstview Sewage Lagoons remains closed and is now unlikely to reopen before December. 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 337 Button Bay Road, Wolfe Island, Kingston, Ontario K0H 2Y0 Canada Mobile: +1 (613) 217-1246 Home: +1 (613) 385-1651 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. 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