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. Note: some sightings may require review and remain unconfirmed unless stated otherwise.
Highlights: As well as an increase in shorebird activity, a few warbler species have begun to come through the area. Highlights include; SANDHILL CRANE, BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER, WILLET, RED-NECKED PHALAROPE, YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHER, PRAIRIE WARBLER, EVENING GROSBEAK and a good movement of COMMON NIGHTHAWK. City of Kingston Not a great deal happening within the city, though the 4 COMMON GOLDENEYE reported earlier in the month are still present in Cataraqui Bay. As noted elsewhere in the area on the same date, good numbers of COMMON NIGHTHAWK (14) were seen at Reddendale on 19th. TENNESSEE and CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLERS have been seen returning through Marshlands CA but so far in very low numbers. Amherstview Sewage Lagoons The highlight of the week was a juvenile RED-NECKED PHALAROPE present for just 2 days (17-18th). With water levels still too high, the only other shorebirds were a couple of LEAST SANDPIPERS and a few LESSER YELLOWLEGS. However, 11 BLUE-WINGED TEAL were seen on 17th. Five NORTHERN SHOVELERS, 175 BONAPARTE'S GULLS and a BALD EAGLE (also noted at several other locations this week) were observed on 19th. An impressive count of 19 COMMON NIGHTHAWK was logged, also on 19th, with a further 8 in Amherstview itself. 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. Wolfe Island The island has held good numbers of BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER this week with 17 noted on 4th Line on 19th. Nearby Reed's Bay held SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER on 17th and SEMIPALMATED PLOVER on 18th. An estimated 2000 PURPLE MARTINS were seen at a roost in Bayfield Bay (no public access) on 18th. Prince Edward Point Banding season has begun and whilst things are perhaps still a little slow at the moment, the 7 BLUE-GREY GNATCATCHERS already banded this season surpass previous records. A BREWSTER's WARBLER was banded last weekend with CANADA, CAPE MAY and BLACKBURNIAN WARBLERS all noted amongst others. Other Sightings South-east of Napanee, along Wilton Creek, a juvenile WILLET reported early this morning (22nd) was still present at lunchtime. Other shorebirds are somewhat scarce at that location and a patrolling MERLIN is certainly not helping the matter. North of Kingston, at Bedford Mills, an adult male EVENING GROSBEAK came to a feeder on 18th but was too large to enter the cage feeder and join the AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES. A little further south, a SANDHILL CRANE was again reported from the Elbow Lake Environmental Educational Station on 19th. Across the border on Murray Isle, located between Wellesley Island and Grindstone Island, a number of warblers were seen on 21st including GOLDEN-WINGED (1), PRAIRIE (2), YELLOW-RUMPED (2) and CANADA (1). Also seen was a single YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHER. In order to minimise disturbance to wildlife and property, the KFN Executive will no longer be reporting owl sightings via the Internet. To maintain records for conservation purposes, sightings are welcomed through all the normal channels. As always, thanks to all those who 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: markdr...@gmail.com 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 birdalert@ontbirds.ca 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