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: The number of migrants has dropped off this week, though a notable influx of warblers did arrive overnight. Last weekend saw the KFN hold their annual Spring Round-up. Whilst results still remain to be formalised, over 190 species were recorded. Prince Edward Point has continued to be the place to be this week, though other sites in and around Kingston have also proved fruitful. Highlights of the week include; BRANT, WILLOW PTARMIGAN, LEAST BITTERN, WILSON'S PHALAROPE, BLACK TERN, WORM-EATING WARBLER, KENTUCKY WARBLER, MOURNING WARBLER and ORCHARD ORIOLE. City of Kingston The best two Kingston sites have remained Marshlands CA and Lemoine Point CA. Both have produced a wide variety of warblers but just singles of BLACKPOLL WARBLER, at Portsmouth Olympic Harbour on 18th, and WILSON'S WARBLER at Marshlands on 21st have been seen this week. Typical for the time of year, BRANT continue to move through, though the bulk of the birds seem to have already passed with respective 'high' counts of just 80 on 18th near the 401 and at Cataraqui Bay on 21st. Also at Cataraqui Bay, a handful of GREATER SCAUP continue to be seen. INDIGO BUNTINGS continue to be seen (at Lemoine Point on 21st and Portsmouth Olympic Harbour on 19th), but the last HERMIT THRUSH was seen at Lemoine Point on 18th. SWAINSON'S THRUSH, on the other hand, are increasing with 3 at Marshlands CA on 21st. A BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON was seen at a waterfront property near Portsmouth Olympic Harbour on 20th and the resident PEREGRINE FALCON has put in sporadic appearances at its usual downtown haunt. Amherst Island At the Martin Edwards Reserve, WILSON'S PHALAROPES are still regularly seen but shorebird diversity in general remains quite poor. However, BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER, DUNLIN, LEAST SANDPIPER, GREATER and LESSER YELLOWLEGS have all been observed over the week, and 9 SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHERS were seen on 17th. Two GREAT EGRETS, 2 BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERONS and an AMERICAN BITTERN were all observed there on 17th. GRASSHOPPER SPARROWS have returned to the fields near the Owl Woods, with 2 birds noted there on 18th. ORCHARD ORIOLE also continues to be seen on the island with one observer noting a female nest-building. A single HORNED GREBE was seen from South Shore Road on 17th. Please note that you must be a member of the Kingston Field Naturalists (KFN) or be accompanied by a member to access the Martin Edwards Reserve. Amherstview Sewage Lagoons BLACK TERNS have continued at the lagoons where as many as 70 were noted over the weekend. LESSER SCAUP, NORTHERN SHOVELER and GADWALL all continue but things in general seem rather slow this year. Please that that you must be a member of KFN or otherwise obtain permission from the municipality to access the lagoons. Prince Edward Point/County Prince Edward Point continues to produce some goodies with a second WORM-EATING WARBLER seen on 19th. A GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLER was noted 16-19th, 2 OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHERS were seen on 18th with one remaining until 20th, and generally good numbers of WILSON'S WARBLERS, a few CANADA WARBLERS and the first GREY-CHEEKED THRUSH have all been seen during the week. A late DARK-EYED JUNCO was seen on 19th and an ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER was seen on 20th. On Long Point Road, 2 NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRDS have been reported on occasions with a MOURNING WARBLER also seen at the same location on 22nd. Both WHITE-WINGED and SURF SCOTERS continue to be seen offshore. Not quite in the area, but most certainly note-worthy is a CHUCK-WILL'S-WIDOW that has been noted for 3 consecutive nights from 19th on Hill Top Rd. No reports have yet come in for last night. At Kaiser Crossroads, the 2 TRUMPETER SWANS continue but virtually all other birdlife has moved on. A handful of SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPERS were present earlier in the week but now appear to have left. Other Sightings Just across the border, the now-moulting WILLOW PTARMIGAN was seen again last weekend west of Watertown at Point Peninsula. Just west of Kingston, at Parrott's Bay Conservation Area, a KENTUCKY WARBLER was found on the morning of 20th and remained until the evening of 21st at least. North of the city, at Moscow Marsh, a LEAST BITTERN was heard calling on 17th. SANDHILL CRANES continue to be reported near Elbow Lake. Away from their traditional location on Canoe Lake Road, a LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH was seen on Chaffey's Lock Road on 21st. CERULEAN and GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLERS are now on territory along Opinicon Road and a MOURNING WARBLER was noted on Canoe Lake Road on 18th. 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. 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