Kingston Field Naturalists (KFN) maintains records in a 50km radius of MacDonald Park, Kingston. Birders already using eBird are encouraged to share their sightings with 'Kingston FN'. Alternatively, please email, phone or post records directly to me - contact details below. Note: some sightings may require review and remain unconfirmed unless stated otherwise.
Highlights: Migration slowed a little during the week but with favourable weather again predicted, some good Easter weekend birding could be forthcoming. Highlights of the week include; EURASIAN WIGEON, BARROW'S GOLDENEYE, GREAT EGRET, SANDHILL CRANE, UPLAND SANDPIPER, LITTLE GULL, LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE and RED-HEADED WOODPECKER. City of Kingston The GREAT EGRET, present on Centennial Drive, continued in to the early part of the week at least, though the Night-Herons have now departed. FOX SPARROWS remain relatively easy to locate and have been seen at many locations, including Marshlands, Invista and Lemoine Point, as have HERMIT THRUSHES and WINTER WRENS. The first RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS came through last weekend, along with a big movement of GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS, BROWN CREEPERS and WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS. Also beginning to come through are the first EASTERN TOWHEES and BROWN THRASHERS, though these currently remain less numerous. YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKERS and NORTHERN FLICKERS are currently quite widespread. RED-NECKED GREBES (5) and RUDDY DUCK (3) were present in the Inner Harbour last weekend. Another RED-NECKED GREBE was seen near Portsmouth Olympic Harbour during the week, as was a HORNED GREBE. CASPIAN TERN, BONAPARTE'S GULLS and COMMON LOON can now be encountered on most open water. NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOWS made their first local appearance at Invista this morning. Wolfe Island As elsewhere, migration progresses on the island, though a ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK was seen on 17th as was a single SNOW GOOSE. Shorebirds include 7 GREATER YELLOWLEGS, also on 17th and numerous WILSON'S SNIPE. Typical for the island, SAVANNAH SPARROW are now easy to find and migrating WHITE-THROATED and FOX SPARROWS are moving through. RUSTY BLACKBIRDS have remained very elusive to date but one was seen here on 17th. Amherstview Sewage Lagoons Now that the ice has melted, the lagoons are attracting better numbers of waterfowl - nothing unusual but always worth checking. There are still good numbers of BONAPARTE'S GULL and the number of NORTHERN SHOVELER and LESSER SCAUP appear to be increasing. Please note you must be a member of Kingston Field Naturalists (KFN) or obtain permission from the municipality in order to gain access to the lagoons. Prince Edward Point/County At Kaiser Crossroads, the EURASIAN WIGEON has remained elusive but was seen again last weekend. TUNDRA SWANS continue to put in an occasional appearance and BONAPARTE'S GULLS have increased to over 200. A LITTLE GULL was seen there on 17th but waterfowl numbers have, in general, decreased as birds continue north. A pair of BLUE-WINGED TEAL and the first GREATER YELLOWLEGS were noted earlier in the week. Near Prince Edward Point, an immature BARROW'S GOLDENEYE was seen and photographed on 12th, where all three scoter species were also noted including 2 BLACK SCOTER. At the Bird Observatory, where banding has now begun, an EASTERN WHIP-POOR-WILL was flushed from the net lanes on 14th. Other Sightings North of the city, a number of SANDHILL CRANES have been reported over the week from various locations including both Opinicon and Florida Roads. An UPLAND SANDPIPER was reported from the Napanee Plains on 12th where LOGGERHEAD SHRIKES have since been reported. East of the city, the RED-HEADED WOODPECKER continues at Gananoque Golf & Country Club. In order to minimise disturbance to wildlife and property, the KFN Executive will no longer be reporting owl sightings via the Internet. To maintain records for conservation purposes, sightings are welcomed through all the normal channels. As always, thanks to all those who submitted sightings over the last week. Mark. Mark D. Read 47 Ellerbeck Street, Unit 1, Kingston, Ontario K7L 4H7 Canada Mobile: +1 613 2171246 Email: [email protected] Blog: "Confessions of a Global Birder" http://markdread.blogspot.com <http://markdread.blogspot.com/> Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/markdread/ eBird Guidelines for Reporting Sensitive Species <http://help.ebird.org/customer/portal/articles/1006789-guidelines-for-repor ting-sensitive-species> _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to [email protected] For information about ONTBIRDS including how to unsubscribe visit http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdssetup
