Apologies for the delayed report - the birding has kept me away from the computer...
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: A strong series of northerly winds with occasional southerly interludes has produced some good sightings this week, with hawk watchers not disappointed. Highlights of the week include; SNOW GOOSE, BRANT, CACKLING GOOSE, TUNDRA SWAN, EURASIAN WIGEON, BLACK SCOTER, GOLDEN EAGLE, NORTHERN GOSHAWK, ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK, SANDHILL CRANE, LITTLE GULL, INDIGO BUNTING and EVENING GROSBEAK. City of Kingston Waterfowl have been in focus this week with the Little Cataraqui Creek (anywhere from Cataraqui Bay to Bath Road) producing a good diversity of species. A female BLACK SCOTER was at Cataraqui Bay on 22nd, in with the more usual GREATER and LESSER SCAUP, REDHEAD and AMERICAN WIGEON. A male EURASIAN WIGEON was seen at the same location on 23rd. Across the road, in Marshlands CA, GADWALL (300), AMERICAN WIGEON, NORTHERN PINTAIL (60), RING-NECKED DUCK (150) and LESSER SCAUP predominate in the shallower water. Out on the lake, WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS have been noted on several dates off Portsmouth Olympic Harbour and a RED-THROATED LOON was seen there on 23rd. In the Inner Harbour, a minimum of 40 RUDDY DUCKS were counted from just one location on 23rd (Montreal Street). A HUMMINGBIRD - presumably RUBY-THROATED - was seen for about 5 minutes in Reddendale on 24th and the first NORTHERN SHRIKE of the season was seen at Lemoine Point CA on the same date. Wolfe Island A LAPLAND LONGSPUR was seen on the island on 22nd and as many as 30 TUNDRA SWANS were noted at Horne's Ferry on the same date. Amherst Island The OFO outing to the island on 19th was a success with highlights including a blue SNOW GOOSE, numerous HORNED GREBES, immature NORTHERN GOSHAWK, 1 abieticola RED-TAILED HAWK, a late AMERICAN REDSTART, 2 LAPLAND LONGSPUR and 5 SNOW BUNTINGS. On 24th, two birders picked the island for a hawk watch and neither were disappointed, both of them seeing GOLDEN EAGLES (as many as 4) as well as a couple of ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS. Also seen that day at Martin Edwards Reserve were 3 BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS and a PECTORAL SANDPIPER. PINE SISKINS and PURPLE FINCHES seem to be numerous on the island. 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 A CACKLING GOOSE was the highlight of the week, one bird being seen on 19th. A couple of LONG-TAILED DUCKS have also been present throughout the week, as have GREATER and LESSER YELLOWLEGS and PECTORAL SANDPIPER. Please note that you must be a member of KFN or otherwise obtain permission from the municipality to access the lagoons. Prince Edward Point A CACKLING GOOSE was seen on 19th and the Kingston Region's second and third ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS of the season were also seen here on the same date. Immature NORTHERN GOSHAWKS were seen on 19th and 20th; an adult on 19th. Three EVENING GROSBEAKS were seen on 19th and have been seen daily in the vicinity of the banding station throughout the week - an impressive 17 birds were seen near Traverse Woods on 24th. Two LITTLE GULLS were still present at the Lighthouse on 20th. Highlight of the week, however, must be the GOLDEN EAGLES that have passed through - 2 on 18th, 4 on 23rd and an impressive 14 on 24th. Two abieticola RED-TAILED HAWKS were also seen on 24th. Shorebirds have been rather scarce but 23 SANDERLING and 2 DUNLIN were seen near the lighthouse on 24th being harassed by an adult PEREGRINE FALCON. Other Sightings An EVENING GROSBEAK was seen near Elginburg on 19th and as many as 5 were seen at a feeder on Washburn Road on 22nd-23rd. A good-sized flock of SANDHILL CRANES (27) was seen at Crystal Spring Farm, Opinicon Road on 21st. An INDIGO BUNTING has been seen at Sandhurst Shores from 22nd-24th at least. 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
