We had probably fifteen species of shorebird this week; most on the gravel bar at the east end of Amherst Island. High counts for the week included 6 Am. Golden, 11 Black-bellied, and 15 Semipalmated Plover, 5 Long-billed Dowitcher, 4 Sanderling, 20 Dunlin, 6 Pectoral, 1 Baird's, and 3 White-rumped Sandpipers. The numbers of both yellowlegs are down significantly.
Merlins are everywhere; RMC, Elginburg, Amherst and Main Duck Islands. The trip to Main Duck last weekend also produced 2 Peregrine Falcons and there was another Peregrine on Amherst this morning. Warbler movement continues; 6 species at Bedford Mills, 6 on the Main Ducks (mainly Yellow-rumped and Palm) and a Black-and-white and a Chestnut-sided closer to the city. There was an excellent flight of thousands of Swainson's and Gray-cheeked Thrushes on the night of the 23/24. Both kinglets were widely reported and White-throated Sparrows have become abundant. There was a Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrow on Amherst on the 21st and a Lincoln's Sparrow and 6 Rusty Blackbirds at Elginburg on the 20th and 21st respectively. Other indications that the season is progressing were a Black Scoter and a Lapland Longspur on the Main Ducks, Purple Finch at Bedford Mills and lots of American Pipits on Amherst. Lingering migrants included about 20 of both Rough-winged and Tree Swallows at Amherstview on Saturday, an Indigo Bunting on Sunday, a Ruby-throated Hummingbird on Monday, both at Elginburg, 2 Bobolinks on Amherst on Sunday, and a Whip-poor-will at Bedford Mills still calling up until yesterday. 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/
