It seems we are into phase three of the fall migration. The early shorebirds are all but gone and the warbler migration has passed its peak with the variety somewhat diminished and the number of Yellow-rumped on the rise. White-throated sparrows have arrived in abundance and a few White-crowned, a Lincoln's and a Clay-colored were reported. There were no shorebirds in the Wilton Creek at Morven today but the bar on Amherst Island continues to produce with 3 Am. Golden Plover, 50 Black-bellied Plover and about 20 Dunlin among others seen on Wednesday. Canada Geese seem to be on the move but as yet we do not have large numbers of migrant waterfowl. Other passerines moving through include vireos; Blue-headed the most frequent, both kinglets, Brown Creeper, Indigo Bunting, Ruby-throated Hummingbird and thrushes. There was a great flight of Swainson's the night of Sept.22/23 with over 20,000 tallied. A few Rusty Blackbirds have started to trickle through. Despite the lower numbers there were two significant warbler sightings; a Connecticut on Amherst last Sunday and 4 Orange-crowned north or Millhaven yesterday. Raptors seem to have stolen the limelight this week. Barred and Great Horned Owls have been calling, small accipiters and Merlins are moving through in good numbers and several Red-shouldered Hawks were near the Queen's Biological Station at Chaffey's Lock. An Osprey was along the Thousand Island Parkway last Friday and another was at Bedford Mills on Monday. A N. Goshawk was at Chaffey's on Wednesday and two Peregrine Falcons were sighted; the first at Ivy Lea on Friday and a second at Lost Lake yesterday. 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/
