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: There have certainly been some good birds this week and, as might be expected, most of them were non-passerines. However, a few late warblers have also been seen, as well a diversity of wintering finches. Highlights of the week include; SNOW GOOSE, TUNDRA SWAN, BLACK SCOTER, RED-NECKED GREBE, GREAT CORMORANT, ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK, AMERICAN AVOCET, WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER, LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL, MARSH WREN, RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET, NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD, LAPLAND LONGSPUR, NASHVILLE WARBLER, COMMON YELLOWTHROAT, AMERICAN REDSTART, ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER, FOX SPARROW, COMMON REDPOLL, and EVENING GROSBEAK. City of Kingston Cataraqui Bay and Marshlands Conservation Area continue to hold a good diversity of waterfowl though numbers seemed to have dropped off this week. All the 'usuals' remain with AMERICAN WIGEON, GREATER SCAUP, RING-NECKED DUCK, REDHEAD, BUFFLEHEAD, and COMMON GOLDENEYE with up to 2 female BLACK SCOTER in the former and LESSER SCAUP, NORTHERN SHOVELER, NORTHERN PINTAIL, WOOD DUCK, GADWALL and AMERICAN COOT in the latter. TUNDRA SWANS now seem to be moving around a lot more and their numbers fluctuate daily. The Inner Harbour has good numbers of AMERICAN COOT; 125 were counted there on 10th when 1600 Aythya sp. were also noted, mainly RINGED-NECKED DUCK but including LESSER SCAUP and REDHEAD. At Reddendale today, NASVILLE WARBLER and ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER were both photographed. The city's resident PEREGRINE FALCON has been seen on several dates this week. Wolfe Island Last Sunday (9th) produced an adult GREAT CORMORANT at Bear Point, Big Sandy Bay Management Area. Also seen there was a late AMERICAN REDSTART (equalling Kingston's latest ever), a lingering MARSH WREN and a RED-NECKED GREBE. In nearby Button Bay, 2 male CANVASBACKS were picked out from amongst the 4000 REDHEAD and 1800 GREATER SCAUP. A SNOW GOOSE was associating with 154 TUNDRA SWANS and a LAPLAND LONGSPUR was seen in the nearby fields in with 25 SNOW BUNTINGS. Elsewhere on the island, 30 BROWN-HEADED COWBIRDS were seen, in with 60 RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS, also on 9th. Amherst Island There have been some good sightings on the island this week, the highlight being an AMERICAN AVOCET that was present for just 2 days (8th - 9th) at Martin Edwards Reserve. Also seen there was a continuing COMMON YELLOWTHROAT. Birders visiting the reserve on 11th picked up 6 WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPERS, loosely associating with several DUNLIN that numbered 10 on 12th. On 11th, a couple of BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER were also present, as well as (rare for the area) LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL and BLACK SCOTER (4 males). Both RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET and FOX SPARROW were seen in the OWL WOODS, also on 11th, and numerous sightings of multiple ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS have been made during the week across the island. Please note that you must be a member of Kingston Field Naturalists (KFN) or be accompanied by a member to access the Martin Edwards Reserve. Prince Edward Point No reports from the point this week but just a little further along the coast (and outside of the circle), one birder had an exceptional day at Point Petre on the 12th with HARLEQUIN (1), a late OSPREY and a PURPLE SANDPIPER. At nearby Sandbanks Provincial Park, the same birder then saw 3 RED PHALAROPES at East Lake and a total of 15 LITTLE GULLS at various locations across the park. At Wellington, a female WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL has visiting a feeder since 9th and was still present yesterday (12th) at least. Other Sightings A female EVENING GROSBEAK continues to be seen, almost daily, on Washburn Road, north of the city and a BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD was seen there today (13th). At Echo Lake, a NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD was seen on 11th. 3 COMMON REDPOLLS were seen at Heritage Point, Bath on 10th. 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
