Kingston Field Naturalists (KFN) maintains records in a 50km radius of MacDonald Park, Kingston. Birders already using eBird are encouraged to share their sightings with 'Kingston FN'. Alternatively, please email, phone or post records directly to me - contact details below. Please note that some sightings may require review and remain unconfirmed unless stated otherwise.
Highlights: A week of extreme cold has caused most inland waters to freeze over, with isolated Lake Ontario bays also icing up. Highlights of the week include; SNOW GOOSE, WOOD DUCK, HORNED GREBE, SNOWY OWL, BELTED KINGFISHER, YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER, BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKER, BROWN THRASHER, RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD, RUSTY BLACKBIRD, and HOARY REDPOLL. City of Kingston Just one report of the SNOWY OWL at Kingston Airport this week (3rd) but another (or possibly the same) was seen at Lemoine Point CA, also on the 3rd. A different individual was seen at Cataraqui Bay on 7th. The downtown HORNED GREBE, first seen on 2nd, was seen again on 5th and an ICELAND GULL was seen at the Wolfe Island ferry dock on 9th. A WHITE-WINGED SCOTER has taken up temporary residence just of Portsmouth Olympic Harbour where possibly the same ICELAND GULL was seen on 4th and a COMMON LOON was observed on 9th. At Little Cataraqui Creek CA, the female BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKER was still present on 5th. A BELTED KINGFISHER was seen at Cataraqui Bay on 6th, though the area is now entirely frozen over. Amherst Island Not too much from the island this week. SNOWY OWLS continue to be seen regularly, as do the numerous ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS. A male RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD was seen in the Owl Woods on 6th. Please note that you must be a member of Kingston Field Naturalists (KFN) or be accompanied by a member to access the Martin Edwards Reserve. Wolfe Island Like Amherst Island, not too many reports this week but a couple of observers did come across LAPLAND LONGSPUR on 7th whilst conducting a waterfowl survey. Also seen were 53 SNOW BUNTINGS. However, they only reported 1 SNOWY OWL, 2 ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS and 1 NORTHERN HARRIER. Other Sightings West of Kingston, at Heritage Point, Bath, the adult white SNOW GOOSE continues to be seen, as do the immature GLAUCOUS GULLS. The adult ICELAND GULL, with apparently pure white primaries, was seen again on 6th. Further west, at Napanee, 2 WOOD DUCKS were seen at their traditional winter location at Springside Park on 7th. At Violet Dump, near Morven, a single immature GLAUCOUS GULL was seen, also on the 7th - the birds that roost at Bath commute between there and the dump daily. At a nearby feeder, a couple of PINE SISKINS were observed - a species that is becoming more difficult to track down as the season progresses. At Camden East, the previously reported BROWN THRASHER made another appearance on 4th. In the Gananoque area, both RUSTY and RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS continue to visit a local garden. North of the city, near Sunbury, a HOARY REDPOLL has begun to visit a feeder on Washburn Road where as many as 50 COMMON REDPOLLS can also be seen, so long as none of this week's MERLIN, SHARP-SHINNED HAWK or COOPER'S HAWK are also present. At the nearby Lower Brewer's Locks, TRUMPETER SWAN numbers have been increasing and an impressive 41 birds (including 16 immatures) were seen on 8th. Further north still, near Bedford Mills, the female YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER reported on a couple of dates in early December now visits a feeder there on a daily basis. In order to minimise disturbance to wildlife and property, Kingston Field Naturalists has adopted the KFN Sensitive Sightings Policy <http://kingstonfieldnaturalists.org/birding/KFN_sensitive_sightings_policy. pdf> . Also note that, as requested by the landowners, sightings of owls at the privately-owned Owl Woods must not be distributed on the Internet (this includes posting as 'Amherst Island' on eBird) by KFN or anyone who visits. To ensure continued access to this location, please respect their wishes and follow the guidelines posted on-site. To maintain records for conservation purposes, sightings from that location are welcomed through all the traditional channels. As always, thanks to all those who have submitted sightings over the last week. Mark. Mark D. Read 47 Ellerbeck Street, Unit 1, Kingston, Ontario K7L 4H5 Canada Mobile: +1 (613) 217-1246 Email: markdr...@gmail.com Blog: "Confessions of a Global Birder" http://markdread.blogspot.com <http://markdread.blogspot.com/> Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/markdread/ eBird Guidelines for Reporting Sensitive Species <http://help.ebird.org/customer/portal/articles/1006789-guidelines-for-repor ting-sensitive-species> _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca For information about ONTBIRDS including how to unsubscribe visit http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdssetup Posting guidelines can be found at http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdsguide
