Another week of atypical April weather and the birds have not disappointed. The focus has almost completely shifted from waterfowl and overwintering raptors to new arrivals. The last Common Redpoll reported was at Camden East on Monday and there were only 2 Rough-legged Hawks on Wolfe Island that same day.
The shorebird migration has moved beyond snipe, woodcock and Killdeer. There were 14 Greater Yellowlegs on Wolfe and an Upland Sandpiper on the Florida Road on the 21st. This same location also had the area's third Sandhill Crane on the 23rd. A pair of Red-shouldered Hawk surveys north of the city tallied 26 on the Canoe Lake Road last Saturday and 19 on the Opinicon Road on Sunday. Two Broad-winged Hawks were seen this week; the first at Amherstview on the 19th and the second on the Opinicon Road on the 20th. Barred Owls are calling "all over the countryside" and a Screech Owl was in the Milton subdivision east of the city. There were 2 Rough-winged Swallows at RMC and a Purple Martin on Wolfe Island on Monday. Eastern Bluebirds were reported from the Gananoque area as well as the Florida Road. Cartwright's Point had a Carolina Wren and 2 House Wrens on Wednesday. Purple Finches are now showing up in good numbers in many locations. Pine Warblers are outnumbering Yellow-rumped so far with 4 on the Canoe Lake Road on Saturday, 13 on the Opinicon Road on Sunday and 2 more in Cartwright's Point on Wednesday. Cheers, Peter Good Kingston Field Naturalists 613 378-6605 _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list [email protected] For instructions to join or leave ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdssetup.php ONTBIRDS Guidelines may be viewed at http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdsguide.php
