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: Despite the Indian summer we're experiencing, the birds are still clued in and are busy making their way slowly south. A distinct change in species has been noted over the last couple of weeks with many more late migrants and early winter visitors putting in an appearance. Highlights of the week include; SNOW GOOSE, CANVASBACK, AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER, RUDDY TURNSTONE, DUNLIN, PARASITIC JAEGER, LITTLE GULL, NORTHERN WHEATEAR, LAPLAND LONGSPUR, ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER, WILSON'S WARBLER, and NELSON'S SPARROW. City of Kingston The 'hotspot' this week has been Sand Bay, just east of Wartman-Patterson Park where a few shorebirds, including SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER, PECTORAL SANDPIPER, SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER and LESSER YELLOWLEGS have benefitted from the lower water levels. Just offshore from here, at Snake Island, RUDDY TURNSTONE, DUNLIN and an early LAPLAND BUNTING were noted yesterday (25th). Marshlands Conservation Area is somewhat slow at the moment but YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER, WINTER WREN, RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET, WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW, WHITE-THROATED SPARROW and INDIGO BUNTING, all passage birds, were seen on 24th. In Cataraqui Bay, 26 GREATER SCAUP, 2 COMMON GOLDENEYE and 17 AMERICAN WIGEON were counted on 25th. At Faircrest Blvd, to the east of the city, ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER and NORTHERN PARULA were seen on 25th. Wolfe Island AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVERS (12) were again seen on 4th Line this week (26th) where both HORNED LARK and AMERICAN PIPIT numbers are increasing. Both SNOW GOOSE and CANVASBACK were seen on the island on 24th, when a couple of late CLIFF SWALLOWS and a single WARBLING VIREO were also observed. At Big Sandy Bay Management Area, 4 SANDERLING and a DUNLIN were at Bear Point today (26th). Also noted at the point was a good passage of BLUE JAYS. In the woods, ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER and 3 WILSON'S WARBLERS were the highlight. A PEREGRINE and 70 TURKEY VULTURES were seen at the same site on 22nd. Amherst Island Martin Edwards Reserve produced the first NELSON'S SPARROW of the season last weekend (21st) along with an early LAPLAND BUNTING. Also present was a STILT SANDPIPER and 4 PECTORAL SANDPIPERS. Elsewhere on the island a couple of AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVERS were seen on 23rd. Reports also came in of a Scissor-tailed Flycatcher seen on 20th but it couldn't be relocated the next day. Please note that you must be a member of the Kingston Field Naturalists (KFN) or be accompanied by a member to access the Martin Edwards Reserve. Prince Edward Point Not much at all came in this week from the point though the 6 LITTLE GULLS seen last Sunday (21st) were a definite highlight. Charleston Lake Provincial Park The park has had its fair share of passage this week with highlights today (26th) including GOLDEN and RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS, BLUE-HEADED VIREO, PINE WARBLER, good numbers of YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS and a PINE SISKIN. Yesterday, SWAINSON'S THRUSH (surprisingly scarce) and DARK-EYED JUNCO were seen. Too late for last week's report, a NORTHERN GOSHAWK was seen on 19th. Stateside - Jefferson County, NY The big one this week was a NORTHERN WHEATEAR present for just 2 days (21st-22nd) west of the town of Henderson. At Gravely Bay, just a little further west near Robert Wehle State Park, a PARSITIC JAEGER was seen on 21st. Other Sightings A TRUMPETER SWAN was seen north of Kingston at Chaffey's Locks earlier in the week (23rd) along with 3 RING-NECKED DUCKS (including 2 juveniles). Today, at Parrott's Bay CA, west of Kingston, a BALTIMORE ORIOLE was perhaps a little late but the typically elusive WOOD THRUSH was bang on target for average autumn departure. 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
