It has been the kind of week that brings in a few of the early migrants but there is enough of a nip in the air that some of the winter birds are hanging on. There are still a few Common Redpolls and several Pine Siskins visiting local feeders. The last Hoary Redpoll was in the city a week ago and there were 50 Bohemian Waxwings in the Depot Lakes area on Sunday. Northern Shrikes were seen on the Opinicon Road and at Lemoine Point this week and there were 13 White-winged Crossbills at Bedford Mills on Sunday. Red-winged Blackbirds and Common Grackles are here in abundance, but only a few Brown-headed Cowbirds have been seen. The first female Red-wing was at Bedford Mills on Monday. Several Killdeer arrived on Sunday and more throughout the week. The largest group was 12 on the lawn at Dupont yesterday. Turkey Vultures are more abundant; there was a kettle of 8 over Hwy 15 on St. Patrick's Day. All other new arrivals came in as singletons; an Eastern Phoebe and a Great Blue Heron at Kingston Mills on Tuesday, an Eastern Meadowlark at Glenburnie and an Am. Woodcock near Elginburg yesterday.
As expected hawks numbers are down. The Wolfe Island Gyrfalcon was last seen on Saturday and we now have a pair of Peregrine Falcons in the city; two were seen at the corner of Princess and Division yesterday. Merlins, probably nesting, were seen on Frontenac Street and on the grounds of the old Psychiatric Hospital. There were 8 Rough-legged Hawks on Simcoe Island on Tuesday; the largest concentration this week. Bald Eagles were widespread with a half a dozen reported and there were 3 Red-shouldered Hawks on the Opinicon Road last weekend. Moving water is open but there is still considerable ice so the waterfowl numbers have not yet peaked. Canada Geese moved in numbers early in the week; unusual was a group of 4 male N. Pintails flying with a flock of Canadas at Bedford Mills. Eastern Bluebirds were seen on Wolfe and Simcoe Islands early in the week. These are the first actual migrants to join the few that overwintered. The last sightings of note were 2 Carolina Wrens that came out of the woodwork on Wednesday; one on Bicknell Crescent and the other on Helen Street. 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/
