We had two rarities in the Kingston Region this past week: the BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE (seen off Bath) and 3 CAVE SWALLOWS (Prince Edward County) were no doubt a legacy of Hurricane Sandy. Most species of winter finches continued to be widespread and fairly common, at least where there were well-stocked bird feeders. The first PINE GROSBEAKS of the season were reported in our region this past week. Kinglets and sparrows were still moving through, as were a few shorebirds. Numbers of GREAT BLUE HERON, TURKEY VULTURE and DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT had dropped off considerably.
City of Kingston Eight CEDAR WAXWINGS and a RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH were at a Reddendale neighbourhood feeder. A CAROLINA WREN and a COMMON GRACKLE were at Cartwright's Point. Cataraqui Bay was hosting good numbers of waterbirds including TUNDRA SWAN, GADWALL, AMERICAN WIGEON, RING-NECKED DUCK, LESSER SCAUP, BUFFLEHEAD, COMMON GOLDENEYE, HOODED MERGANSER, COMMON LOON, AMERICAN COOT and BELTED KINGFISHER. A RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER was there too. Many of the same waterfowl species were on the Cataraqui River, with the addition of MUTE SWAN, AMERICAN BLACK DUCK, NORTHERN SHOVELER, NORTHERN PINTAIL, REDHEAD, COMMON MERGANSER and 13 RUDDY DUCKS. Other river birds included COMMON LOON, 2 PIED-BILLED GREBES, AMERICAN COOT and a BELTED KINGFISHER. Amherst Island Raptor numbers on the island were on the rise with BALD EAGLE, RED-TAILED HAWK, ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK, NORTHERN HARRIER and AMERICAN KESTREL all reported. Waterbirds included 10 TUNDRA SWANS, GADWALL, 800 GREATER SCAUP, COMMON GOLDENEYE, BUFFLEHEAD as well as COMMON and RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS. A few LONG-TAILED DUCKS were also reported from here and other locations on Lake Ontario. Other species of note included 1 HORNED GREBE, 1 RED-NECKED GREBE, 1 GLOUCOUS GULL, 2 RED-BELLIED WOODPECKERS, 1 BELTED KINGFISHER, 1 COMMON RAVEN, 1 BLUE-HEADED VIREO, 3 HERMIT THRUSHES, our first 18 PINE GROSBEAKS of the winter, 1 NORTHERN SHRIKE and SNOW BUNTING. There were still some lingering shorebirds to be found: 1 BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER, 1 DUNLIN, 1 SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER, 1 WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER and 1 AMERICAN WOODCOCK. Amherstview Sewage Lagoons GADWALL, AMERICAN BLACK DUCK, NORTHERN PINTAIL, 15 GREEN-WINGED TEALS, COMMON and HOODED MERGANSERS, 3 RUDDY DUCKS and 2 KILLDEERS were all present. Please note that you must be a Kingston Field Naturalist club member to access the sewage lagoons. Bath A blue phase SNOW GOOSE, 1 immature BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE, 1 ICELAND GULL and 3 KILLDEERS were highlights. The shoreline along Bath Road had lots of common species of waterfowl. Prince Edward County Eastern Prince Edward County had some interesting birds including 80 WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS, 9 BLACK SCOTER, 12 HORNED GREBES, 2 RED-NECKED GREBES, BALD EAGLE, 1 SHARP-SHINNED HAWK, 1 RED-SHOULDERED HAWK, 7 TURKEY VULTURES, 1 RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER, 2 RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES, 40 CEDAR WAXWINGS, 6 YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS, 40 COMMON GRACKLES and 5+ CAVE SWALLOWS and 1 NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW. Wolfe Island Waterbirds: 27 TUNDRA SWANS, GADWALL, AMERICAN BLACK DUCK, NORTHERN PINTAIL, 2500 REDHEAD, 150 LESSER SCAUP, 1 SURF SCOTER, 12 LONG-TAILED DUCKS, BUFFLEHEAD, COMMON GOLDENEYE, COMMON and RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS and 25 COMMON LOONS. Raptors: NORTHERN HARRIER and RED-TAILED HAWK. Shorebirds: 1 GREATER YELLOWLEGS, 15 DUNLINS and 2 WILSON'S SNIPES. Other birds: 1 LONG-EARED OWL, 1 NORTHERN FLICKER, 1 MERLIN, 2 COMMON RAVENS, 1 HORNED LARK, 2 BROWN CREEPERS, 1 WINTER WREN, 4 HERMIT THRUSHES, 45 AMERICAN PIPITS, 2 BOHEMIAN and 100 CEDAR WAXWINGS, 2 LAPLAND LONGSPURS, SNOWBUNTING, 1 COMMON YELLOWTHROAT, 1 SAVANNAH SPARROW, 1 SWAMP SPARROW, 2 RUSTY BLACKBIRDS and 2 BROWN-HEADED COWBIRDS. Other Observations Seven TUNDRA SWANS were near Harrowsmith and 6 TRUMPETER SWANS were at Charleston Lake Provincial Park. A ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK was seen from Highway 401 near Napanee. A RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER was at Bedford Mills. A BARRED OWL and RUSTY BLACKBIRD were at Elginburg. A RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH was on Howe Island and another near Odessa. Battersea had 1 RUSTY BLACKBIRD. One each of EASTERN SCREECH, GREAT HORNED and BARRED OWL was heard near Odessa. The only reports of RED CROSSBILL this past week came from the same spot. Thanks to all those who submitted sightings this past week. Mark -- Mark Andrew Conboy Operations & Research Assistant and Outreach Coordinator Queen’s University Biological Station 280 Queen's University Road Elgin, Ontario, Canada K0G 1E0 phone: 613-359-5629 fax: 613-359-6558 email: mark.con...@queensu.ca or mcon...@lakeheadu.ca QUBS website: http://www.queensu.ca/qubs/index.html QUBS blog: http://opinicon.wordpress.com/ QUBS flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/qubsoutreach/ _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
