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: This last week has seen a big push of migrants into the area with a good selection of local, even provincial, rarities. As always at this time of year, Prince Edward Point has provided the 'best of the bunch' but good local birding has been available right here in the city at both Marshlands and Lemoine Point Conservation Areas, in particular. Some of you may have noticed the lack of a report last week (yes, birding got in the way of that one) so please note that one or two of these sightings may now be approaching two weeks old. Highlights of the period include; BRANT, GREAT CORMORANT, SANDHILL CRANE, WILSON'S PHALAROPE, LITTLE GULL, BLACK TERN, RED-HEADED WOODPECKER, WORM-EATING WARBLER, LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH, KENTUCKY WARBLER, MOURNING WARBLER, HOODED WARBLER and ORCHARD ORIOLE. City of Kingston The 13th May produced a large fall of warblers on the city with TENNESSEE, NORTHERN PARULA, CAPE MAY and BAY-BREASTED WARBLERS being noted at both Marshlands CA and Lemoine Point CA. YELLOW-RUMPED, BLACK-THROATED BLUE and YELLOW WARBLERS arrived in force, with smaller numbers of MAGNOLIA, BLACK-THROATED GREEN and NASHVILLE. The first BLACKPOLL WARBLER was noted at Lemoine Point on 14th, the first CANADA WARBLER was at the same location on 12th, and a MOURNING WARBLER was at Marshlands on 12th. Also arriving with the warblers were numerous INDIGO BUNTINGS, amongst which were the odd SCARLET TANAGER and PHILIDELPHIA VIREO. Seen on the 12th were 2 RED-HEADED WOODPECKERS at Lemoine Point, quite the local rarity. Another Red-headed Woodpecker was seen just north of the city on 10th, perhaps indicating a small movement. An adult male OCHARD ORIOLE has been seen on-and-off at Lemoine Point since 11th; a first summer male was also seen there on 12th. Both SWAINSON'S THRUSH and VEERY have been seen this week, again at both locations. BRANT have been moving through this week, with a high count (to date) of 700 seen at Lemoine Point on 13th. The first COMMON NIGHTHAWK of the year was noted on 12th and CHIMNEY SWIFTS have been present since 7th May at least. RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRDS seemed to have passed through mainly unnoticed; the only record within the city being one near Portsmouth Harbour on 13-14th. A CLAY-COLOURED SPARROW at Marshlands CA on 9th was a good local record. Left over from last week is a late TUNDRA SWAN on the Cataraqui River on 7th and, good for the city, 3 LEAST SANDPIPERS at Lemoine Point, also on 7th. Amherst Island At the Martin Edwards Reserve, WILSON'PHALAROPES continue, where 160 LEAST SANDPIPER and 8 LESSER YELLOWLEGS were noted on 13th. On the same day, 4 BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERONS were also present. A couple of GREATER YELLOWLEGS were present on 12th but shorebird activity has been generally slow. The Owl Woods produced a male HOODED WARBLER on 9th, with a GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLER and 13 other species to boot. UPLAND SANDPIPER and GRASSHOPPER SPARROW have been seen in the general location since 6th and 10th respectively. Three HORNED GREBES were seen from South Shore Road on 13th. 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. Amherstview Sewage Lagoons With water levels too high for shorebirds, the highlight of the last week was 4 BLACK TERNS seen there on 9th. Also present are LESSER SCAUP, BLUE-WINGED and GREEN-WINGED TEAL, NORTHERN SHOVELER and GADWALL. Please that that you must be a member of KFN or otherwise obtain permission from the municipality to access the lagoons. Prince Edward Point/County Prince Edward Point has had its fair share of rarities recently with a male KENTUCKY WARBLER seen at Traverse Woods on 11th. Also present from 10th, and banded on 11th, was a WORM-EATING WARBLER in the vicinity of the Observatory. A female CERULEAN WARBLER was seen on 14th, BLUE-WINGED WARBLERS have been coming through since 10th (at least) and GOLDEN-WINGED since the 9th, both though in very low numbers. A HOODED WARBLER was seen on 10th. At Kaiser Crossroads, waterfowl are virtually non-existent but a couple of TRUMPETER SWANS can still be seen. The last report of a LITTLE GULL came in on the 7th. Shorebirds, however, are increasing with SEMIPALMATED PLOVER first seen on 8th, DUNLIN on 3rd, and LEAST SANDPIPER on 8th. The 3 AMERICAN PIPITS seen there on 11th remain the only local record to date. Other Sightings Just across the border, a GREAT CORMORANT was seen at the American end of the 1000 Islands Bridge on 8th May but not subsequently relocated. North of the city, SANDHILL CRANES still continue to be reported near Elbow Lake. On Canoe Lake Road, LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSHES also continue to be noted with one observer recording 5 different individuals. The first EASTERN WHIP-POOR-WILL was noted on Florida Road on 5th and are now quite widespread. EASTERN WOOD-PEWEES were seen on 1oth at Frontenac Provincial Park and Bedford Road. The first GRASSHOPPER SPARROWS were back on 10th at three different locations, the most northerly being, again, on Bedford Road, north of Sydenham. A private wetland in Sydenham has SORA, COMMON GALLINULE, GREEN HERON and as many as 4 AMERICAN BITTERNS, as well as breeding MERLIN. Also in Sydenham but on the main lake were 8 RED-NECKED GREBES on 8th. Good numbers of BLACK TERNS were noted at Camden Lake, with 16 there on 10th and 24 on 11th. 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 4H7 Canada Mobile: +1 613 2171246 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
