At 1:00 p.m. today there was 1 ad. LITTLE GULL in the north cell among the 100 BONAPARTE'S GULLS at the Amherstview Lagoons. Also at the lagoons was1 SPOTTED SANDPIPER, 10 PECTORAL SANDPIPERS, 1 BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER and 1 GREATER YELLOWLEGS. Although there were vast numbers of passerines moving through this morning on Amherst Island, the rarity which I always anticipate wasn't found. At the east end of the island there were 6 LAPLAND LONGSPURS. Only four species of shorebirds were seen. In the Owl Woods was 1 LONG-EARED OWL. There were 10 species of sparrows which include 2 FOX SPARROWS. There were 100's of WHITE-THROATED & WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS and DARK-EYED JUNCOS. HERMIT THRUSHES and YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS seemed to be everywhere. Also seen was 1 SWAINSON'S THRUSH, 100 RUSTY BLACKBIRDS, 10 PURPLE FINCHES, 1 HOUSE WREN and 6 BLUE-HEADED VIREOS. The only butterfly seen was 1 Monarch.
Good Birding Bruce Ripley Amherstview 613-384-6392 Directions To Amherst Island - Ontario Road Atlas, MapArt Publishing [Pg. 36, E54 & E55] Located 18 km. west of Kingston. Exit off Hwy. 401 at exit 593 (County Rd. 4, Camden East) and drive south to the very end (Millhaven). Turn right on Hwy. 33 and drive 100 metres until you see the sign for the Amherst Island ferry. The ferry (20 minute trip) leaves the mainland on the half hour and leaves the island on the hour. Cost is $5.00 Canadian round trip. There are no gas stations on the island. There are restrooms on the ferry, and at the island ferry dock. The East End K.F.N. property is at the easternmost part of the island on the east side of the Lower Forty Foot Road. To reach the Owl Woods, turn left (east) at the four-way stop sign by the general store and drive 3.4 km along Front Rd. to the (seasonal) Marshall Forty-Foot Rd. Marshall Forty-Foot Rd. is across the road from house #2320. Drive along Marshall Rd. to the mid-way point, where there is an "S" in the road (1.2 km, look for the K.F.N. kiosk which has owl observing ethics). Park in the gravel lane or off the road edge. Directions to Amherstview Sewage Lagoon - Ontario Road Atlas, MapArt Publishing [Pg. 36, D55] >From Hwy. 401 take exit 599 (County Rd. 6, Odessa) south on County Rd. 6 to Taylor-Kidd Blvd. Turn left (east) on Taylor-Kidd and drive approx. 1 km watching for a lane on your right after crossing railway overpass. This is the entrance to the lagoon. If you're coming from Amherst Island, drive east on Hwy 33 approx. 9 km. and then turn left on County Rd 6. Continue north about 1.5 km and turn right (east) onto Taylor-Kidd Blvd.
