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Kingston Area Birds: 20th – 26th March 2021

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.

3rd Ontario 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/ https://www.birdsontario.org/.
Alternatively, contact me directly.

Highlights:

Migration slowed as the winds swung back to a more northerly direction but
folks still got out to log what they could. Major waterways are now open,
with many smaller inland waterbodies also opening up. Snow cover is mainly
patchy. A good variety of waterfowl continued and winter finches seem to
persist in fair numbers. Here are the highlights of the past week:

SNOW GOOSE – a flock of 60 birds was seen near Desert Lake on 21st with a
single on Amherst Island on 23rd.

TRUMPETER SWAN – With birds continuing to disperse, the highest count this
week came from Opinicon Road where 19 birds were seen on 20th.

TUNDRA SWAN – sightings came from a number of locations across the area this
week. A high count of 45 came from Kingston’s inner harbour on 20th.

GREEN-WINGED TEAL – a male bird showing characteristics of both the American
and Eurasian subspecies was seen near Gray’s Creek, Gananoque, on 24th.

NORTHERN SHOVELER – singles were first seen on 21st (including Kingston’s
inner harbour) with birds becoming widespread by 24th.

BLACK SCOTER – 2 birds were seen near Prince Edward Point on 21st.

PIED-BILLED GREBE – still not widespread, birds were seen in Kingston’s
inner harbour on 20th and 21st and at Jones Falls on 25th.

HORNED GREBE – a single bird was seen at Prince Edward Point on the slightly
early date of 21st.

SANDHILL CRANE – there were again several sightings of this locally
increasing species this week, with a high of 5 at Russell Road, Lansdowne,
on 23rd.

GREATER YELLOWLEGS – the first of the season was at Invista, Kingston, on
26th.

BONAPARTE’S GULL – a single bird seen at Amherstview Sewage Lagoons on 20th
was the earliest record on date for the Kingston area. Eight birds were seen
near Prince Edward Point on 21st.

WILSON’S SNIPE – the first of the year was seen at Belle Park, Kingston, on
20th with several sightings over the following days.

OSPREY – the first of the season was reported from Wolfe Island on 26th.

ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK – an incredible 54 birds were seen on Amherst Island on
22nd, where the majority of sightings came from. In contrast there were zero
on Wolfe Island.

RED-HEADED WOODPECKER – a continuing bird was seen on Chaffey’s Lock Road on
several dates this week.

PEREGRINE FALCON – The pair at OPG, Bath, were seen mating on 23rd, with a
further observation of 2 birds near Landon Bay on 22nd.

EASTERN PHOEBE – the first birds were reported on 22nd and widespread just
days later.

NORTHERN SHRIKE – 3 different birds were reported this week, at Millhaven,
Amherst Island, and Prince Edward Point.

TUFTED TITMOUSE – a single bird was seen at Marshland CA, Kingston, on 23rd.

TREE SWALLOW – the first birds of the season (3) were seen on Amherst Island
on 22nd.

RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET – a single bird was seen on Howe Island on 22nd.

CAROLINA WREN – a single bird was singing at Lake Ontario Park, Kingston, on
23rd.

GRAY CATBIRD – an overwintering bird was seen in Kingston’s north end on
21st.

HERMIT THRUSH – a continuing bird was seen at Marshlands CA, Kingston, on
23rd.

HOARY REDPOLL – two birds continued in the Alwington area of Kingston this
week with singles in Gananoque on 20th and at Marble Rock on 24th.

RED CROSSBILL – 16 birds were seen near Rock Dunder on 24th, with a single
on Amherst Island on 20th. Four birds were seen at Bedford Mills on 22nd,
and a single was seen near Verona on 20th.

PINE SISKIN – 2 birds were seen near Waupoos on 21st with another 2 on Bur
Brook Road, Kingston, on 20th.

FIELD SPARROW – 2 birds were seen at Prince Edward Point on 23rd.

FOX SPARROW – birds arrived back in the area (3 locations) on the early date
of 22nd, with sightings continuing from an increasing number of locations
throughout the week.

SWAMP SPARROW – singles were seen on Howe Island on 22nd and Cataraqui Bay,
Kingston, on 23rd.

RUSTY BLACKBIRD – birds were seen on Howe Island, Wolfe Island, at Lansdowne
and Prince Edward Point this week.

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