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. Please note that some sightings may require review and remain unconfirmed unless stated otherwise.
Highlights: Last weekend was the KFN Spring Round-up, providing a good indicator of the diversity of species in the area. A full report will be published at a later date but a minimum of 186 species were seen. Highlights of the week include; LEAST BITTERN, ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK, BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER, RUDDY TURNSTONE, WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER, SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER, WILSON'S PHALAROPE, BLACK TERN, OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER, NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD, GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLER, ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER, MOURNING WARBLER, HOODED WARBLER, CERULEAN WARBLER, CANADA WARBLER, WILSON'S WARBLER, and ORCHARD ORIOLE. City of Kingston Not too many sightings from the city this week. Most of the sightings have come from Lemoine Point CA where the ORCHARD ORIOLE of last week continues to be seen. On 20th, two MOURNING WARBLERS were also present, as well as BLACKBURNIAN and MAGNOLIA WARBLERS. Two GREAT EGRETS were seen at Westbrook Marsh on 17th and resident downtown PEREGRINES have been seen on several dates. Amherst Island The Martin Edwards Reserve is holding good numbers of WILSON'S PHALAROPES - 23 were seen on 17th but other shorebirds have put in an appearance with a single RUDDY TURNSTONE there the same day as well as 1 BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER, 10 SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS, 25 DUNLIN and 3 SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHERS. In the Owl Woods, an OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER, also on the 17th, was a little early. MOURNING WARBLER, CANADA WARBLER and ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER were also present over the weekend. On the access road to the woods, CLAY-COLOURED and GRASSHOPPER SPARROWS were also seen, as well as ORCHARD ORIOLE and a late ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK. Ferry services to both Amherst and Wolfe will be disrupted until the end of June - the Wolfe Island ferry is being serviced and has been replaced by the Amherst Island ferry, in turn replaced by the Glenora ferry, essentially halving capacity on all 3. Plan accordingly and car-pool if you can. 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 The county, and in particular Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory, continues to be a draw for birds and birders with highlights including 2 HOODED WARBLERS last weekend as well as an almost complete compliment of all the other 'regular' warblers. OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHERS were also seen here over at least 3 days (16th-18th) but numbers are not certain. Just outside of the circle is, for the second year running, a CHUCK-WILL'S WIDOW, this time on Brewers Road. Present since 17th, it was present until 19th at least, though reports are patchy. At Kaiser Cross Road, 2 WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPERS were seen on 16th as were an impressive 70 SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS and 130 LEAST SANDPIPERS. Amherstview Sewage Lagoons BLACK TERNS were seen on 17th but it is the shorebird habitat that is opening up that holds promise, unfortunately as yet unfulfilled. However, a good selection of regular shorebirds can be seen - 5 SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHERS were also present last weekend. Somewhat unusual for the site, an EASTERN BLUEBIRD was seen on 17th. LESSER SCAUP, NORTHERN SHOVELER, BLUE-WINGED TEAL and GREEN-WINGED TEAL can all be seen relatively easily. 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. Other sightings Quite the spectacle, an impressive 35 BLACK TERNS were at Moscow Marsh on 19th; another was at Elbow Lake Environmental Education Centre on 21st. A NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD was seen near Verona on 18th and yet another OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER was seen further east near Lansdowne on the same date. A LEAST BITTERN was on Wiltse Creek Marsh on 20th and BRANT continue to be seen in various locations across the area. And just in today, a YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHER was seen on a private farm near Verona this afternoon (22nd). In order to minimise disturbance to wildlife and property, Kingston Field Naturalists has adopted the KFN Sensitive Sightings Policy <http://kingstonfieldnaturalists.org/birding/KFN_sensitive_sightings_policy. pdf> . Also note that, as requested by the landowners, sightings of owls at the privately-owned Owl Woods must not be distributed on the Internet (this includes posting as 'Amherst Island' on eBird) by KFN or anyone who visits. To ensure continued access to this location, please respect their wishes and follow the guidelines posted on-site. To maintain records for conservation purposes, sightings from that location are welcomed through all the traditional channels. As always, thanks to all those who have 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
