Shorebird migration started locally with both yellowlegs reported on July 7th. Since then it has been steady but not spectacular. Black-bellied and Semipalmated Plover, Short-billed Dowitcher and Semipalmated Sandpiper have been seen on several occasions and there have been lots of Least Sandpipers and Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs. In the "less common" category were a Stilt Sandpiper at the lagoons on July 17th, a White-rumped, a Solitary and a Western Sandpiper in the Wilton Creek at Morven on July 21, 24, and 26 respectively and a Long-billed Dowitcher at the lagoons on August 12th. Local habitat is not particularly good this year; the lagoons are full restricting the few shorebirds to the very edge; the water level remains high behind the dike on the KFN property and the Wilton Creek has one of its bridges under construction. There are lots of waterfowl, both on Amherst Island and at the lagoons. If one has the patience to sort through dozens of brown ducks some surprises are possible. There has been a pair of Ruddy Ducks at the lagoons at least since July 23rd. Lesser Scaup nested there again this year and over the summer Common Goldeneye, Ring-necked Duck, Greater Scaup and Redhead have been seen. A Tundra Swan has oversummered off the east end of Amherst Island. The highlight of the summer was the discovery of nesting Great Egrets on Centre Brothers Island between Amherst Island and Amherstview. (This is a first for the Kingston area.) Since then Great Egrets have been seen in wetlands all around Kingston including the Lennox Generating Station, Simcoe and Amherst Islands and Glenburnie. Unusual sightings include Common Terns (They are not common at this end of Lake Ontario.) off Amherst island on July 12th and in the Kingston Harbour on August 12th, a Least Bittern on Garden Island on August 9th and a Little Gull at the lagoons on August 22nd. Landbird migration is picking up. There have been concentrations of Common Nighthawks in Kingston, Elginburg, Camden East and Gananoque. A few warblers have started the trek south with reports of Yellow, Blackburnian, Blue-winged, Chestnut-sided, Black and White, Black-throated Green as well as Am. Redstart and Ovenbird. An Olive-sided Flycatcher was on Garden Island on Tuesday. 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 birdalert@ontbirds.ca For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
