There has been a lot of activity this week at widespread locations. North of
the city at the Queen's University Biological Station (QUBS) there were many
warblers moving. Both Barred and Eastern Screech Owls were calling and a Merlin
was seen on Tuesday. A Carolina Wren was heard for a few days; unusual away
from Lake Ontario and a Purple Finch was noted on Monday. For the second fall
in a row I have had a report of a fruit-eating Pileated Woodpecker; this time
eating black cherries. Still to the north, at Bedford Mills, a fabulous week;
17 species of warbler including N. Parula, Canada and Golden-winged and five
of the possible local vireos including a White-eyed on Tuesday. Other good
birds they reported were Broad-winged Hawk, Barred Owl, Yellow-bellied
Flycatcher, Brown Creeper and both House and Purple Finch.
The Wilton Creek near Morven continues to be productive despite low water
levels. Best birds this week were a pair of Short-billed Dowitchers on Sunday.
The K&P Trail continues to yield good numbers of warblers and vireos with
Philadelphia Vireos being particularly numerous on Sunday.
On Wednesday a trip to Amherst Island tallied nine shorebird species; two Stilt
Sandpipers and a Red Knot were the highlights. An immature Black-crowned
Night-Heron and 2 Am. Bitterns were seen as well.
Wolfe Island received some attention this week. On Monday a survey of land
birds had 2000 Tree Swallows, 95 Bobolinks, and 15 Eastern Kingbirds. Raptors
included a Merlin, a Broad-winged Hawk, 3 Red-tailed Hawks, 4 Turkey Vultures,
9 N. Harriers and 37 Am. Kestrels. By Thursday all the swallows were gone but
for 10 Purple Martins. There were good numbers of Bobolinks and Savannah
Sparrows and a few shorebirds; 2 Greater Yellowlegs and 6 Black-bellied Plovers
amongst the numerous Killdeer.
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/
