Fall migration is picking up steam and we're finally starting to get a few good birds. There have been up to three Ruddy Ducks at the lagoons and a Red-necked Grebe was seen off Amherst Island a week ago Wednesday. Thirteen Mute Swans in Hay Bay is a large number for the Kingston area. A couple of Merlins at Lemoine Pt. and another at the lagoons today and a Barred Owl at Elginburg on Wednesday were the only raptors of note this week. A Loggerhead Shrike along the Mud Lake Road on Tuesday was unexpected. Despite the lack of habitat some good shorebirds are moving through. The usually reliable Wilton Creek at Morven is devoid of both birds and water. Nearby,however, in fields along the McIntyre Road, were 3 Am. Golden Plover last Friday and a Pectoral Sandpiper on Monday. The largest group of Great Egrets reported this week were nine at the Lennox Generating Station on Saturday. The Amherstview sewage lagoons continue to have large numbers of ducks, both puddle and divers that were joined by a Pied-billed Grebe and a Common Loon today. The Long-billed Dowitcher is still there as was a Whimbel today. Two Red-necked Phalaropes were swimming in the lagoons last Friday and another appeared on Wednesday. A Baird's Sandpiper was seen on Amherst on the 21st and 26th. Passerine migration has also improved. Lots of warblers, vireos and flycatchers were noted at Lemoine Pt. along with a Winter Wren and a field trip in the Hay Bay area on Sunday had an Olive-sided Flycatcher and a Ruby-crowned Kinglet. I have noted in the past that the KFN property on the east end of Amherst Island is only open to KFN members and their guests due to liability concerns. In a similar vein the KFN has an agreement with Loyalist Township to access the Amherstview lagoons despite the NO TRESSPASSING signs. Anyone birding the lagoons must be prepared to show a current KFN membership card to township employees. 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/
