There was very little mention of waterfowl this week and only a few reports of raptors. There are apparently lots on Wolfe Island; more than on Amherst. Specific sightings include a Sharp-shinned at an Elginburg feeder last Friday, a Bald Eagle near Roblin on Wednesday and only moments ago an adult Red-tail made an unsuccessful swoop through my backyard hoping to have a Red Squirrel for breakfast.
The largest number of winter finches seems to be north of the city; 25 Evening Grosbeaks at Bedford Mills last Friday and two dozen Pine Grosbeaks in Verona Saturday. Pine Grosbeaks were also seen on Wolfe Island, outer Montreal Street, and at Bedford Mills. The Bedford Mills feeder has also had close to a hundred Common Redpolls all week. A dozen Bohemian Waxwings in Verona and a Northern Shrike near Camden East last Saturday completes the winter bird list for this week. Lingering and late migrants made things a little more interesting. There were 4 Killdeer and an Am. Pipit at Bath, 4 Sandhill Cranes flew over Dorland and a Robin at Bedford Mills (these are conspicuously absent this winter) ; all reported last Friday. Some feeders are hanging onto some individuals; a male Red-winged Blackbird and a Red-breasted Nuthatch at Bedford Mills, and a Common Grackle at Camden East. There was another Grackle seen in Hartington on Saturday. The bird of the week (for all those winter listers) was a Gray Catbird in Barriefield 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 ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS@hwcn.org For instructions to join or leave ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdssetup.php ONTBIRDS Guidelines may be viewed at http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdsguide.php
