The KFN did their annual spring round up last weekend and with less than fallout conditions tallied 167 species. We had all the expected vireos, 22 species of warbler (more heard than seen), 9 flycatchers and 16 different shorebirds. There were 100's of Cedar Waxwings at Prince Edward Point as well as two of the Harlequin Ducks that have delighted birders for the past month. Both Merlin and Peregrine Falcons are nesting in the city.
Noteworthy waterfowl included three flocks of Brant; two over the Queen's Biology Station during the day and another over Camden East in the middle of the night last Friday. There was a Eurasian Wigeon at the lagoons on the 21st but it only remained one day. There was a Least Bittern in the Moscow marsh on Saturday and a Tricolored Heron was on the KFN property on Amherst Island on Tuesday and Wednesday. Yesterday there were four Am. Bitterns on Amherst. Shorebird migration continues with the mix changing daily. On Monday there were 4 Short-billed Dowitchers, a White-rumped Sandpiper, both yellowlegs and a Red-necked Phalarope at the lagoons and on Amherst 30 Short-billed Dowitchers. By Wednesday the number of dowitchers on Amherst had dropped to 20 and yesterday there was only one along with 2 Black-bellied Plover, a Semipalmated Plover and lots of Least Sandpipers and Wilson's Phalaropes. Four Turkey Vultures loafed on the bar on Amherst looking quite out of place in what is normally an area frequented by gulls, waterfowl and shorebirds. Other good sightings this week were Common Nighthawks at Frontenac Park and Newburgh, a Yellow-billed Cuckoo at Bedford Mills, an Orchard Oriole on Howe Island, and yesterday an Am. Pipit on Amherst and 5 Sandhill Cranes over the Cataqui Town Centre. 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 information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/