The time of year has finally arrived when one has to be somewhat selective in what to report. The number of first arrivals is significant this week but there have been no rarities and not very much of an unexpected nature.
Common Loons are on most of the back lakes but very few were seen on Lake Ontario. A late report had 6 Red-necked Grebes on Sydenham Lake April 22nd; these birds are rarely seen away from the big lake in the Kingston area. Sora, Virginia Rail, and Am. Bittern were widely reported. With respect to raptors, Osprey seem to be everywhere in numbers; 2 near Kingston Mills, up to 5 at RMC and both platforms on Amherst Island seem to be occupied. The second Red-shouldered Hawk survey found 17 on the Opinicon Rd. There were still 2 Rough-legged Hawks and a Short-eared Owl on Amherst last Saturday as well as several N. Harriers with the males doing their wild roller coaster mating ritual. Shorebird migration is picking up steam with eight species reported. Amherst had 4 Greater Yellowlegs,1 Ruddy Turnstone, and 3 Wilson's Phalarope on April 29 and a different mix of 4 Dunlin, 4 Phalarope, 2 Greater Yellowlegs, 5 Spotted, and 1 Least Sandpiper on May 3rd. Millhaven Creek in Odessa had both Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs as well as Spotted Sandpipers. Wilton Creek near Morven had both yellowlegs and a Solitary Sandpiper. More yellowlegs and 3 Least were on Unity Rd. and another Solitary was seen on the Opinicon Rd. Passerines are also more varied this week. E. Kingbirds were seen on Amherst April 29th and in shrike habitat near Newburgh on May 4th. A Great-crested Flycatcher was on the Opinicon Rd. April 30th. Three species of vireo were mentioned: Warbling at Little Cat, Yellow-throated on the Opinicon Rd. and Blue-headed at both of these locations plus Lemoine Pt. Warblers are trickling in but there are not yet enough Yellow-rumps to make to make warbler viewing really frustrating. A N. Waterthrush was off HWY 38 on May 2nd, Black and White and Redstart were at Little Cat, and Nashville and Palm at Lemoine Pt. on May 3rd. A Common Yellowthroat was at Elginburg and a Yellow at Camden East on May 4th. There seems to have been a movement of Red-breasted Nuthatches this week with several reported from Amherst, Lemoine Pt., and the Opinicon Rd. House Wrens have appeared everywhere as have White-crowned Sparrows. The latter, I think, wait until gardeners have planted their grass seed before they return. Rose-breasted Grosbeaks were heard at Lemoine Pt. and Camden East on the 3rd and 4th respectively. And just to show that it's almost never too late to pick up some winter birds, 2 Evening Grosbeaks visited a feeder in Bayridge yesterday. Cheers, Peter Good Kingston Field Naturalists 613 378-6605
