The very pleasant weather of late has led to ideal conditions for birding but has not generated any mass movements nor precipitated any major fall-outs. An excellent variety or raptors was noted this week; Am. Kestrel, Sharp-shinned Hawk and N. Harrier on Amherst Island and 3 Red-shouldered and a Broad-winged Hawk at Bedford Mills on the 30th. Merlins were seen on Amherst, at Bedford Mills and at the Amherstview sewage lagoons. Four Peregrine Falcons (probably the family from downtown Kingston) were seen near the Queen's campus headed for Wolfe Island last Monday.
Shorebirds continue to put on a good show. There were 10 species on Amherst last weekend including 4 Black-bellied and 10 Semipalmated Plover as well as a single Red Knot. There was a Baird's among seven species of shorebird at the sewage lagoons last Sunday. The number and variety in the Wilton Creek near Morven is diminishing. Warbler movement has picked up somewhat. Highlights were a N. Parula and a Canada at Elginburg, a Wilson's at Camden East and 13 species at Bedford Mills including Orange-crowned, Canada, Blackpoll, and Bay-breasted. Philadelphia Vireos were also at Bedford Mills and Camden East. Other noteworthy sightings were 300 Bonaparte's Gulls at the sewage lagoons and 4500 Tree Swallows (the flock included at least 6 Chimney Swifts) on Amherst last Sunday and a Whip-poor-will, still calling on Wednesday, at Bedford Mills. 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 information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
