Hi all, I've been surveying Snowy Owls across Amherst Island this winter and spring, and numbers reached a peak today of an incredible 44 birds (up from 22 on 31 March). The majority of the birds are on the ice off the south shore where there are good numbers of ducks (esp Long-tailed Duck). Also good was the centre of the island and Amherst Bay, where 13 birds were visible on the ice from one spot. Birds on the island itself are active to about 7:30am, and then tend to tuck in on the ground where they're harder to see. I didn't see any snowies on the ferry ride, on the nw corner of the island, or for most of the north shoreline.
Few birds were close - a scope is essential. best wishes to all, Paul Directions (courtesy of Bruce Di Labio): 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 $9.00 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. Map of the island: http://www.amherstisland.on.ca/Maps/ 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 contactinformation or how to become a member, please visit http://kingstonfieldnaturalists.org/ ." **************************************************** Paul R. Martin, PhD Associate Professor Department of Biology Queen's University Kingston, ON K7L 3N6 Canada email: p...@queensu.ca phone: +001 613-533-6598 fax: +001 613-533-6617 http://post.queensu.ca/~pm45/ **************************************************** _______________________________________________ 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
