Kingston Field Naturalists (KFN) maintains records in a 50km radius of MacDonald Park, Kingston. Birders using eBird are encouraged to share their sightings with ‘Kingston FN’. Alternatively, please email or send records directly to me – contact details below. Please note that some sightings may require review and remain unconfirmed unless stated otherwise.
Third Breeding Bird Atlas:
We are still looking for people to survey squares in the Kingston area (and beyond). To register and for more information, please visit https://www.birdsontario.org/. Alternatively, contact me directly.
Highlights:
Things slowed down a bit this week and returned to a more normal situation in terms of weather and migration for the time of year. There’s lots of anticipation in the air but don’t forget the whole province is under a stay-at home order – please follow provincial and local guidelines. Here are the highlights of the past week:
SURF SCOTER – 16 birds were seen near Prince Edward Point on 10th.
BLACK SCOTER – 6 birds were seen near Prince Edward Point on 10th.
HORNED GREBE – 12 birds were seen near Prince Edward Point on 10th.
RED-NECKED GREBE – 1-2 birds were at Prince Edward Point on 14th/15th.
VIRGINIA RAIL – birds are now fairly widespread.
COMMON GALLINULE – the first bird of the year was photographed at Sydenham on 13th.
SANDHILL CRANE – birds were noted at 7 locations this week, clearly indicating a local increase.
LITTLE GULL – a single bird was seen at Reed’s Bay, Wolfe Island on 11th, with two there on 13th. Four birds were seen at Kaiser Cross Road, Prince Edward, on 15th.
LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL – not a common species in the area, a mobile adult was seen on Wolfe Island on 11th, continuing to 15th.
CASPIAN TERN – numbers are slowly beginning to pick up.
AMERICAN BITTERN – birds are slowly becoming more widespread in low numbers.
GREAT EGRET – There were several widespread sightings this week.
BROAD-WINGED HAWK – the first of the season was noted near Verona on 10th.
ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK – Five birds were still on Amherst Island on 15th.
PEREGRINE FALCON – Kingston’s downtown bird was seen on 13th.
PURPLE MARTIN – the first birds were seen back on Amherst Island on 13th.
HOUSE WREN – further to last week’s very early bird, another individual was seen Lemoine Point CA, Kingston, on 10th.
CAROLINA WREN – birds were noted at Gananoque, Kingston, and near Bedford.
BROWN THRASHER – this species is now widespread.
EVENING GROSBEAK – a single bird was noted near Verona on 14th.
PINE SISKIN – a single bird was seen at Bur Brook Road, Kingston, on 10th.
RUSTY BLACKBIRD – there were numerous widespread sightings this week but the high count came from Big Sandy Bay, Wolfe Island, where 25 were seen on 11th.
PALM WARBLER – a single bird was seen at Prince Edward Point on 14th.
PINE WARBLER – widespread
In order to minimise disturbance to wildlife and property in the recording area, Kingston Field Naturalists has adopted the KFN Sensitive Sightings Policy. Please note that you must be a card-carrying member of Kingston Field Naturalists (KFN), or be accompanied by a member, to access both the Martin Edwards Reserve and Amherstview Sewage Lagoons.
As always, a big thank you goes to all those who have submitted sightings directly or via eBird.
Mark.
Mark D. Read
337 Button Bay Road,
Wolfe Island,
Kingston, Ontario
K0H 2Y0
Canada