There were lots of new arrivals this week, some unusual sightings and the beginnings of the shorebird and warbler influx. A pair of Sandhill Cranes flew over Otter Lake on Sunday and Caspian Terns made their return; 1 in Elevator Bay and 2 on Wolfe Island on Sunday, then another at PEPt on Wednesday. Shorebirds started with a Greater Yellowlegs and a Pectoral Sandpiper on Amherst last Friday; there was a Long-billed Dowitcher, also on Amherst, on Tuesday and 2 Upland Sandpipers at PEPt on Wednesday. There are up to four pairs of Merlins nesting within the city and possibly two pairs of Peregrine Falcon. One was seen on the Princess Towers last Friday and another rehabilitated female was successfully released at the condos near the Steam Museum at the beginning of the week. The Osprey have returned to RMC as well as most of their other regular nest sites. Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers moved through in good numbers; 4 on Amherst on the 9th and 5 at PEPt on the14th. The Cliff Swallows are back at the lighthouse at PEPt and lots of Rough-winged Swallows are along the shores of Amherst Island. The warblers noted this week were Yellow-rumped on Amherst and at Bedford Mills, Pine at six different locations; some on territory others moving through and a Palm on Amherst yesterday. Brown Thrashers and Hermit Thrushes were seen in several places. There have been no White-crowned Sparrows as yet but Fox, Swamp, Chipping, White-throated, Savannah and Field as well as Eastern Towhees were reported this week. Dark-eyed Juncos are still abundant. There were 2 Rusty Blackbirds in a wet woods near Camden East and in the same area a local farmer indicated he had a Common Raven nest in a derelict barn on his property. Lingering winter birds include a Pine Siskin at Elginburg up to April 10th and 3 Rough-legged Hawks on Amherst yesterday. A pair of Purple finches are regular at the Bedford Mills feeder. Three species of owl were noted this week; a Barred last Friday and a Great Horned and a Short-eared yesterday, all on Amherst Island. 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/
