A busy week has meant that this report comes a few days late, but better late than never I suppose. Birds of particular note this week were a WHIMBREL and a LITTLE GULL (Prince Edward County), an AMERICAN BITTERN (Camden East) and a few other "early birds". The migrants continue to arrive including lots of GREAT BLUE HERON, DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT, AMERICAN KESTREL, NORTHERN FLICKER, EASTERN PHOEBE, EASTERN BLUEBIRD. OSPREY sightings had also been widespread; notably early. COMMON LOON numbers were increasing on Lake Ontario and among the back lakes north of the city. There were widespread reports of small numbers of PURPLE FINCH and PINE SISKIN all this past week. A few NORTHERN SHRIKE continued to linger around the region as the first migrant YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS arrived (widespread locations).
Amherst Island There were still some raptors being reported from the island, including NORTHERN HARRIER, RED-TAILED HAWK, 6 ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS, 5 SNOWY OWLS and 2 SHORT-EARED OWLS. Also of note were 4 WILSON'S SNIPES and 1 SAVANNAH SPARROW. Amherstview Sewage Lagoons A limited assortment of waterfowl this past week: CANADA GOOSE, WOOD DUCK, GADWALL, MALLARD, 8 NORTHERN SHOVELERS, 3 REDHEADS, RING-NECKED DUCK, 16 LESSER SCAUP and, BUFFLEHEAD. Bedford Mills The long-staying FIELD SPARROW continued to visit a feeder on Hardwood Lane. This bird obviously picked a perfect year to overwinter. Other birds of note include COOPER'S HAWK, RED-SHOULDERED HAWK, GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET. Elginburg A PINE WARBLER was visiting a bird feeder on Mar 26 through at least Mar 29. A NORTHERN SHRIKE and a RUSTY BLACKBIRD were at the same location on Mar 27. Opinicon Road Waterfowl at Chaffey's Lock included 6 TRUMPETER SWANS, RING-NECKED DUCK, COMMON GOLDENEYE, as well as COMMON and HOODED MERGANSERS. COMMON LOONS can now be found on Lake Opinicon, Indian Lake, Upper Rock Lake and no doubt elsewhere. BARRED OWLS can be heard nightly all over the countryside. A SHARP-SHINNED HAWK flew over Lake Opinicon last evening. RED-SHOULDERED HAWKS are everywhere up and down Opinicon Road now. BALD EAGLES have nearly vanished. Prince Edward Point A very early WHIMBREL was observed on two days, Mar 23 and Mar 24 at Kaiser Crossroad. No reports since. There was 1 LITTLE GULL and 8 BONAPARTE'S GULLS off the end of the Point on Mar 26. Waterfowl this past week included WOOD DUCK, AMERICAN WIGEON, AMERICAN BLACK DUCK, NORTHERN SHOVELER, NORTHERN PINTAIL, GREEN-WINGED TEAL, RING-NECK DUCK, BUFFLEHEAD, GREATER SCAUP, 25 WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS, 600 LONG-TAILED DUCKS, COMMON GOLDENEYE, COMMON MERGANSER and 200 RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS. Also on the water were COMMON LOON and 3 HORNED GREBES. Other species: 400 CEDAR WAXWINGS, 4 YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS, 1 WINTER WREN, 1 FIELD SPARROW and 3 FOX SPARROWS. Wolfe Island Among the birds reported last week were WOOD DUCK, GADWALL, AMERICAN BLACK DUCK, GREEN-WINGED TEAL, 270 REDHEADS, RING-NECKED DUCK, GREATER SCAUP, 2 LESSER SCAUPS, LONG-TAILED DUCK, BUFFLEHEAD, COMMON GOLDENEYE, COMMON and RED-BREASTED MERGANSER, NORTHERN HARRIER, 5 ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS, 12 AMERICAN KESTRELS, 1 MERLIN, 3 SNOWY OWLS, 1 YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER, 1 NORTHERN SHRIKE and 13 TREE SWALLOWS. Other Sightings A very early AMERICAN BITTERN was flushed from a marsh near Camden East on Mar 23. A MERLIN was at Harrowsmith. A BALD EALGE was near Crosby. An early GREEN HERON was also at Crosby on Mar 25. There were 15 RUSTY BLACKBIRDS at the intersection of Bur Brook and Corduke's Road on Mar 29. Three YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS were at Heritage Park in Bath. The first PIED-BILLED GREBE reported to me this year was at Murvale. A SHARP-SHINNED HAWK was at Charleston Lake Provincial Park. Thank you to those who contributed observations this week. All bird sightings reported to me are included in the Kingston Field Naturalists’ long term records database which has over 60 years of observations on file and is an invaluable conservation resource. Mark -- Mark Andrew Conboy Operations & Research Assistant and Outreach Coordinator Queen’s University Biological Station 280 Queen's University Road Elgin, Ontario, Canada K0G 1E0 phone: 613-359-5629 fax: 613-359-6558 email: [email protected] or [email protected] QUBS website: http://www.queensu.ca/qubs/index.html QUBS blog: http://opinicon.wordpress.com/ QUBS flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/qubsoutreach/ _______________________________________________ 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/
