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: As we wait in anticipation for a major migratory push, shorebirds continue to entertain and the diversity of warblers begins to increase. Highlights of the week include; AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER, STILT SANDPIPER, BAIRD'S SANPIPER, PECTORAL SANDPIPER, SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER, LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL, RED-HEADED WOODPECKER, GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSH, NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD, and DICKCISSEL. City of Kingston Marshlands Conservation Area has produced a couple of interesting sightings this week with a relatively early GREY-CHEEKED THRUSH seen yesterday and a NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD today. Warblers have remained quite scarce at this location though AMERICAN REDSTART, CAPE MAY, MAGNOLIA, BAY-BREASTED, BLACKPOLL and PINE WARBLERS have all been noted during the week. As usual at this time of year, RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRDS are migrating through and can be seen with little difficulty. At Lemoine Point CA, the RED-HEADED WOODPECKERS have been seen on a couple of occasions, most recently this morning (5th). Again, a young bird has been seen, a strong indicator of breeding success. A WILSON'S WARBLER was also noted this morning along with TENNESSEE and MAGNOLIA. Amherstview Sewage Lagoons A couple of PHILADELPHIA VIREOS were noted at the lagoons on 1st but other passerine movement has been minimal. LESSER YELLOWLEGS continue (19 on 1st) as well as GREATER YELLOWLEGS and LEAST SANDPIPER on 3rd. BLUE-WINGED TEAL, GREEN-WINGED TEAL and NORTHERN SHOVELER are the current waterfowl highlights. 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. Wolfe Island The number of BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS has dropped off this week, though 22 were still present at 4th on 31st Aug. AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVERS have remained fairly steady, though have been spread across two sites, 4th Line and 9th Line where SEMIPALMATED PLOVER and a PECTORAL SANDPIPER have also been present. Unusual for the area a LESSER BLACK-BACKE GULL was seen from the Wolfe Island Ferry on 3rd. Amherst Island A Stilt Sandpiper showed up at the Martin Edwards Reserve last Friday (29th) joined by another on 30th and remaining until 31st at least. Also present have been Baird's Sandpiper and Pectoral Sandpiper amongst the numerous SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPERS, YELLOWLEGS and LEAST SANDPIPERS. As many as 20 BLUE-WINGED TEAL were present on 3rd. Elsewhere on the island that day were TENNESSEE, YELLOW-RUMPED, CAPE MAY and BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLERS. 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. Prince Edward Point Warbler numbers fluctuate at the Point but a respectable 16 species were logged on 3rd. However, the highlight of the week was an immature male DICKCISSEL banded on 1st. Hints of raptor migration have been noted on a couple of dates with small numbers of COOPER'S, BROAD-WINGED, and SHARP-SHINNED HAWKS noted as well as MERLIN and BALD EAGLE. A couple of LITTLE GULLS and BLACK TERN were seen off the lighthouse on 1st but further details are yet to be received. Other Sightings Not much else this week; even Wilton Creek has become very quiet now though a couple of SHORT-BILLED DOWICHERS continue to show well just below the bridge. Please note viewing is only permitted from the public road - all land bordering the creek is private. On Napanee Limestone Plain IBA, a LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE was seen on 1st. 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 4H5 Canada Mobile: +1 (613) 217-1246 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 Posting guidelines can be found at http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdsguide
