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: It's been a stop and start week but today saw a genuine overnight arrival of some new species to the Kingston Area. Finally, I can also report that Lake Ontario is now pretty much ice-free. Highlights of the week include; SNOW GOOSE, CACKLING GOOSE, COMMON LOON, GREAT EGRET, SANDHILL CRANE, ICELAND GULL, YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER, NORTHERN SHRIKE, BARN SWALLOW, WINTER WREN, HERMIT THRUSH, CHIPPING SPARROW, FOX SPARROW, and SWAMP SPARROW. City of Kingston Waterfowl are no longer quite the highlight that they were but noticeable changes are taking place with good numbers of Greater Scaup and increasing numbers of Lesser Scaup in the Inner Harbour. There have also been high numbers of RING-NECKED DUCK with 400 noted at the same location on 6th. PIED-BILLED GREBES are moving in and GREEN-WINGED TEAL are now relatively easy to find. A COMMON LOON was seen off Portsmouth Olympic Harbour on 8th and 10th but the first for the area was seen north of the city on 3rd. Not many geese this week, though a CACKLING GOOSE came through ahead of last night's storm. The first WILSON'S SNIPE (3) of the year were seen at Invista on 2nd. Marshlands CA is beginning to pick up with several 'firsts' this week with both FOX SPARROW and SWAMP SPARROW on 5th, WINTER WREN from 7th onwards, with 4 on 9th, YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER and HERMIT THRUSH on 10th, and clear movement of NORTHERN FLICKER and EASTERN PHOEBE, also on 10th. A NORTHERN SHRIKE was seen there on 7th. Amherst Island A remarkable high count of 44 SNOWY OWLS was recorded on 6th. Also seen that day were an equally impressive 4000 LONG-TAILED DUCKS and 2000 COMMON GOLDENEYE. A couple of ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS were still there that day too but their numbers are definitely falling. A BARN SWALLOW was seen on the island on 5th. 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. Howe Island The island has held in the region of 100 SNOW GEESE this week, often seen early morning east of the ferry. COMMON LOON and ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK were seen there yesterday and NORTHERN PINTAIL and GREEN-WINGED TEAL earlier in the week. Other sightings Amherstview Sewage Lagoons held 5 NORTHERN SHOVELER on 8th and a CHIPPING SPARROW was seen in the vicinity on 9th. An ICELAND GULL was up at Moscow Dump on 5th and a CACKLING GOOSE was seen near Elginburg on 2nd. 3 SANDHILL CRANES were seen near Seeley's Bay on 9th and a GREAT EGRET was seen at Bedford Mills on 8th. The region's first COMMON LOON was seen at Lower Brewers Locks on 3rd. 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
