It seems the fall shorebird migration started locally with 5 Lesser Yellowlegs at the Amherstview sewage lagoons on June 30th. Since then there has been a good selection of common species on Amherst Island, in the Wilton Creek at Morven, as well as at the lagoons. These included Semipalmated Plover, Short-billed Dowitcher, Greater Yellowlegs (a high count of 26 on Aug. 13th at Amherst Island),Semipalmated, Stilt, Solitary, and Least Sandpipers. There have been 5 Baird's reported from July 9th to Aug. 13th, 1 White-rumped July 9th, and 1 Pectoral July 24th. The first Black-bellied Plover arrived Aug. 13th. The only rarities to date were a Western Sandpiper July 9th and 2 Red-necked Phalarope August 15th, all on the KFN property on Amherst Island.
A Great Egret has been making the rounds this summer. They do not breed in the Kingston area but a lone bird showed up on Amherst Island on May 31st, stayed for 2 days then disappeared. Since then a single egret has been reported at the sewage lagoons (July 25th), Abbey Dawn (July 29th), Wolfe Island (Aug. 9/10), and then back on Amherst Island Aug. 13th. To add to the Great Egret count a group of 4 landed on Amherst Island Aug. 8th, one of which had been banded on June 12th at the Niagara River. There is a good selection of waterfowl at the sewage lagoons including Blue-winged Teal, N. Shoveler, and N. Pintail.There is a single female Bufflehead, up to 3 Hooded Mergansers, a Coot, and a family of Pied-billed Grebes. Osprey have successfully fledged young at at least four locations in the Kingston area: RMC, Amherstview Sports Field, the KFN property on Amherst Island, and Dorland. An unusual and puzzling occurrence had a pair of Osprey starting to build a nest at the end of July at the ballfield beside the school on Amherst Island. There has been a hint of warbler migration with a flurry north of Amherstview on Aug. 17th, including 2 Wilson's, a Canada, 3 Magnolia, 2 Black-throated Blue as well as Black and White, and Am. Redstart. To conclude this week's report, an update on the local Loggerhead Shrike population; there were 10 pairs located this year in the Napanee area of which 8 successfully fledged young. Cheers, Peter Good Kingston Field Naturalists 613 378-6605
