Most of the migrants seen this week were Yellow-rumped Warblers, White-crowned and White-throated Sparrows as well as huge flocks of blackbirds. One of these last Sunday, near Lansdowne, lasted over an hour and contained an estimated 40,000 Common Grackles, 5000 Red-winged Blackbirds, 3000 European Starlings, 1200 Rusty Blackbirds and 1000 Brown-headed Cowbirds. In much smaller numbers, several observers reported Hermit Thrushes and there were 7 E. Bluebirds northeast of Gananoque on Sunday. There was a Vesper Sparrow at the lagoons and a N. Parula, Am. Redstart and Pine Warbler near the Invista (Dupont) plant yesterday. Waterfowl numbers and variety keep improving. One hundred and sixty-two Ring-necked Ducks at Chaffey's Lock on Tuesday was a considerable number. Yesterday there was a white Gadwall amongst the many ducks in Elevator Bay and a lone Brant was seen with Canadas in Amherstview on both Wednesday and Thursday. A dead Solitary Sandpiper was found near Lansdowne last Sunday and the lagoons had but a single Lesser Yellowlegs yesterday. Noteworthy raptors included an immature Golden Eagle at Prince Edward Point on Sunday as well as 4 Rough-legged Hawks and 3 Short-eared Owls on Amherst Island on Tuesday. The best bird this week was an immature Red-headed Woodpecker that put in an appearance on Howe Island on Wednesday. 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/
