The best birds of the week were 2 LITTLE GULLS seen off the east end of Amherst Island. Most of the expected early spring migrants were widespread and common this past week. PIED-BILLED GREBES, FOX SPARROWS, CHIPPING SPARROWS and BARN SWALLOWS were being seen in increasing numbers and PURPLE MARTINS began appearing. CASPIAN TERN and GREATER YELLOWLEG numbers were on the rise, but there are still lots more of them to come. RUFFED GROUSE and WILD TURKEY were displaying all over the countryside.
Amherst Island Among the more notable waterbirds were good numbers of LONG-TAILED DUCK, COMMON LOON, BONAPARTE'S GULL and 2 LITTLE GULLS. Birds of prey included OSPREY, NORTHERN HARRIER, RED-TAILED HAWK, ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK and 2 SNOWY OWLS. Also of note were 2 UPLAND SANDPIPERS, 1 BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER and 12 RUSTY BLACKBIRDS. Opinicon Road At least 3 TRUMPETER SWANS remained on Lake Opinicon. A handful of COMMON REDPOLLS continued to visit the feeders at Queen's University Biological Station (QUBS). RED-SHOULDERED HAWKS and COMMON RAVENS were on nests. BARRED OWLS could be heard nightly. Two flocks of BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS numbered 105 birds in total - a good number for this season. A BROWN THRASHER, a VESPER SPARROW (unusual along Opinicon Road) and 2 PINE SISKINS were seen near QUBS. Two PINE WARBLERS and 1 YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER have set up territories at the biological station. Prince Edward County Notable birds at Prince Edward Point included 2 SURF SCOTERS, 700 WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS, 3 HORNED GREBES, 1 RED-NECKED GREBE, BONAPARTE'S GULL, 1 MERLIN, 2 COMMON RAVENS, 1 HERMIT THRUSH, 8 YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS and 4 VESPER SPARROWS. There were 8 PECTORAL SANDPIPERS in the Kaiser Crossroads area. Other Observations Two BLUE-WINGED TEALS and 15 NORTHERN SHOVELERS were among the waterfowl at the Amherstview Sewage Lagoons. A SANDHILL CRANE was near Puzzle Lake. A COOPER'S HAWK was at CFB Kingston. A NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW was also present at the lagoons. A NORTHERN GOSHAWK was seen near Battersea. There was a WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW at Gananoque. Thanks to all those who submitted observations during the past 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: 613-533-6617 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/
