When asked what was coming to his feeder a neighbour sighed," about 300 redpolls, I've gone through 170 pounds of niger seed." Feeder birds are certainly increasing with more Mourning Doves (they have become quite vocal this week), Eur. Starlings, Dark-eyed Juncos , Bluejays (74 at Bedford Mills last weekend) and the very numerous redpolls. (Several people report 150+ with the odd Hoary to make it interesting.) Pine Siskins and Am. Goldfinches are present but in small numbers. Away from backyards, there was a N. shrike near Bellrock and on Wolfe Island; 2 N. Harriers and single Red-tailed and Rough-legged Hawks. Bald Eagles are still around in good numbers; they were seen on Old Front Road and Wolfe Island as well as at Bellrock and Buck Lake north of the city. A couple of Barred Owls were reported; at 401 and Hwy 38 and at Bellrock. Migrants are few and far between as yet. Except for large numbers of Am. Crows, a Red-winged Blackbird on the Florida Road Wednesday, an Am. Robin at Yarker yesterday, a few Hooded Mergansers at Kingston Mills and small flocks of Horned Larks along the roadsides adjacent to plowed fields we have yet to see much of an influx. 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 [email protected] For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
