The best bird of the past week was a RED PHALAROPE seen at Bath (see below). Widespread land bird migrants included NORTHERN FLICKER, EASTERN PHOEBE, both KINGLETS, YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER, SONG, SWAMP, SAVANNAH, WHITE-THROATED, WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS, DARK-EYED JUNCO, RED-WINGED and RUSTY BLACKBIRDS, COMMON GRACKLE and a few BROWN-HEADED COWBIRDS. Widespread waterfowl included CANADA GOOSE, MALLARD, AMERICAN BLACK DUCK, GADWALL, AMERICAN WIGEON, GREEN-WINGED TEAL, RING-NECKED DUCK and COMMON MERGANSER. AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES were widespread, but aside from a handful of PURPLE FINCH, PINE SISKIN and EVENING GROSBEAK sightings, finch numbers were rather low.
City of Kingston Elevator Bay hosted 1 BRANT, NORTHERN PINTAIL, both SCAUP species and PIED-BILLED GREBE among other water birds. A possible Hudsonian Godwit was reported here on Oct 16, but the ID was not fully confirmed. Species in the Cataraqui River included NORTHERN SHOVELER, REDHEAD, LESSER SCAUP and AMERICAN COOT. A few PINE SISKINS have been visiting feeders in the city. Amherst Island RED-BREASTED MERGANSER, 500 GREATER SCAUP, COMMON LOON, 1 HORNED GREBE, 1 RED-NECKED GREBE, AMERICAN KESTREL, NORTHERN HARRIER, 3 SHORT-EARED OWLS, BONAPARTE'S and GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULLS and HORNED LARK were all reported. Bath Waterbirds near Bath included MUTE SWAN, 1 RED-NECKED GREBE, BONAPARTE'S GULL, 1 BELTED KINGFISHER. Shorebirds included KILLDEER, 1 GREATER YELLOWLEGS and 1 RED PHALAROPE. The phalarope was seen 25 m offshore of the public dock in Bath. Opinincon Road Two TRUMPETER SWANS had returned to Chaffey's Lock. Good numbers of waterfowl were beginning to roost nightly on Lake Opinicon, including lots of HOODED MERGANSERS. BALD EAGLES had become a regular sight on Lake Opinicon and throughout the surrounding area. EASTERN SCREECH, BARRED and GREAT HORNED OWLS were all heard at Queen's University Biological Station (QUBS). Four AMERICAN PIPITS, an EASTERN BLUEBIRD and an EVENING GROSBEAK were at QUBS. The QUBS feeders are a good place to see up to four RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES and a few PURPLE FINCHES. AMERICAN WOODCOCKS were found in abundance this week throughout the QUBS land holdings. Other observations There was a pair of SANDHILL CRANES on Leland Road near Perth Road Village. An OSPREY was near Newburgh. 15 CHIPPING SPARROWS at Morven was an high number for this time of year. Elginburgh had the first AMERICAN TREE SPARROW of the season as well as a CHIPPING SPARROW and a RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER. Thanks to all those who contributed sightings this week. 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/
