Hi Everyone, Spent the past two days birding Amherst Island. Weather conditions were highly variable including snow, wind and extremely cold tempuratures. Despite all of that, the birding was excellent. Yesterday, January 13th we observed 6 Northern Saw-whets, 3 Boreals, 9 Long-eared and 4 Short-eared Owls. Open field birding was difficult due to the blowing snow but 5 Snowy Owls were observed late afternoon after conditions had changed. Today, January 14th, it was a clear, cold morning, -25C, but a great morning in the "Owl Woods". A total of 5 Northern Saw-whets, 1 Boreal, 19 Long-eared and 8 Short-eared Owls were observed. Other species included, a few small flocks of White-winged Crossbills, 1 Northern Shrike, 1 Hermit Thrush and 1 Red-bellied Woodpecker. A quick check of the island roads produced 14 Snowy Owl, 27 Rough-legged and 21 Red-tailed Hawk, 3 Northern Harrier, 3 American Kestrel, 1 Northern Shrike and 70 Snow Bunting. Access to the "Owl Woods" by car, was only from the South Shore Rd. Good birding, Bruce
Directions:Amherst Island: 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 $8.00 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 had owl observing ethics). Park in the gravel lane or off the road edge. Because of liability issues, visitors to the Kingston Field Naturalists' property at the east end of Amherst Island MUST be accompanied by a KFN member. For KFN contact information or how to become a member, please visit http://kingstonfieldnaturalists.org/ ." Di Labio Birding Website Courses and Field Trips http://www.dilabiobirding.ca Bruce Di Labio 400 Donald B. Munro Drive P.O. Box 538 Carp, Ontario K0A 1L0 Office 613-839-4395 Mobile 613-715-2571 _______________________________________________ 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