Spring is arriving, albeit slowly, in the Kingston region. This morning, just before sunrise, Mourning Doves, Crows, Robins and our resident Screech Owl were "singing" away. Feeder birds have increased significantly both in number (thank goodness we don't have to feed all those blackbirds all winter) and in variety. Song Sparrows and Purple Finches are now more widely reported and Goldfinch numbers seem to be up, with many of the males starting to show patches of brilliant gold. A White-throated Sparrow on the Gore Rd. was probably one that overwintered. Early spring is when new birds show up along the shore of Lake Ontario; real spring is when the birds can move inland and actually set up shop for the summer. We are getting a little of this kind of activity; Eastern Meadowlarks near Lansdowne, a Great Blue Heron and a Black Duck near Elginburg, a Bufflehead on the Napanee River at Yarker, and a Killdeer north of Newburgh. Other migrants of note included a Common Loon at Ivy Lea on Wednesday and a Rusty Blackbird near Elginburg last Saturday. I've had no reports from Amherst Island this week but from Wolfe Island the area's third Turkey Vulture of the year on Wednesday as well as two Snowy Owls and four Rough-legged Hawks. Cheers, Peter Good Kingston Field Naturalists 613 378-6605
