After only one report all summer it seems as if Common Nighthawks have all of a sudden become visible and numerous. Ten were at Lake Opinicon last Friday, another 6 near Gananoque on Saturday and then on Sunday, 8 near Camden East and an impressive 140 on Howe Island. Five more hawked near Camden East on Wednesday. Passerine migration is well underway. The movement of Red-breasted Nuthatches continues; one on Amherst Island on the 26th and another near Elginburg on the 27th. Flycatchers reported included Eastern Wood-Pewee, Olive-sided,and Yellow-bellied. There was some warbler movement noted both on Amherst and at Little Cataraqui. Species reported included Redstart, Black and White, Magnolia, Chestnut-sided, Black-throated Blue, Wilson's, and Canada. A Blue-gray Gnatcatcher was in the Owl Woods on the 26th. Merlins too put on a good show this week. There were 2 at a farm near Gananoque, another showed up near Elginburg on Friday and Tuesday, one patrolled the KFN property on Amherst Island and 5 were seen on Wolfe Island on Wednesday. Shorebird numbers are down this week except for Lesser Yellowlegs; 10 at Little Cat and 30 on Amherst. There were 3 Ruddy Turnstones and a Whimbrel on Amherst last Sunday. Plovers and "peeps" were scarce. Five Upland Sandpipers were still at the farm near Gananoque on the 27th. Miscellaneous sightings; a Sora on the 26th and 5 Black-crowned Night-Herons on the 27th, both at Little Cat; 15 Common Terns at Button Bay on Wolfe Island and from the above-mentioned farm near Gananoque a pair of Ravens that raised 5 young in a shed.
Cheers, Peter Good Kingston Field Naturalists 613 378-6605 _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS@hwcn.org For instructions to join or leave ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/ontbirdshow.htm ONTBIRDS Guidelines may be viewed at http://www.ofo.ca/ontbirdsguide.htm
