There were seven species of waterfowl in the Amherstview sewage lagoons last weekend including 2 Am. Wigeon, 15 N. Shoveler, and 3 Hooded Mergansers. There was also a Red-breasted Merganser on Amherst and the first reported Am. Coot of the fall was in Elevator Bay on Wednesday.
Raptors are not yet in abundance but a Merlin was seen on Amherst on Saturday and two more were reported on Sunday. A Peregrine Falcon (or two?) was seen on Wolfe Island last Thursday and Monday and on Amherst on Sunday. Eight Northern Harriers on Amherst last Sunday was a significant increase. Shorebird migration has improved of late. Highlights included; a Solitary, 10 Baird's, 9 Pectoral Sandpipers and 3 Red Knots at the lagoons last Saturday along with a single Little Gull amidst 350 Bonaparte's; 4 Black-bellied Plover, 1 Am. Golden-Plover and 4 Sanderling on Amherst on Sunday; and another Red Knot and 4 Ruddy Turnstones on Amherst on Monday. New species of passerine are arriving regularly. There were 13 species of warbler reported in the city this week and there was a good flight of Swainson's Thrushes the night of Sept. 6/7. Other firsts for this fall include a Ruby-crowned Kinglet at Elginburg, A Rusty Blackbird at Bedford Mills, and 2 Am. Pipits on Amherst all reported last Sunday and 3 Blue-headed Vireos in the city on Monday. 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 [email protected] For instructions to join or leave ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdssetup.php ONTBIRDS Guidelines may be viewed at http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdsguide.php
