Kingston Field Naturalists (KFN) maintains records in a 50km radius of MacDonald Park, Kingston. Birders using eBird are encouraged to share their sightings with 'Kingston FN'. Alternatively, please email or post records directly to me - contact details below. Please note that some sightings may require review and remain unconfirmed unless stated otherwise.
A REMINDER RE OWL WOODS: A condition of being allowed continued access to the Owl Woods is that observations of owls seen there are not posted to the Internet (in any form) during the current season. Notices explaining the reasons for this are posted at several locations in the woods. Currently the landowners allow access but this may change if the rules are broken. I am happy to answer questions on their behalf privately. Highlights: With falling temperatures at the tail end of the week, many of the waterbodies are frozen. It was a pretty quiet week for the birds, though general diversity was not bad. Here are the highlights of the last week: NORTHERN PINTAIL - 2 drakes were seen at Invista, Kingston from 14th to 15th. CANVASBACK - just one bird was seen this week, at Invista on 14th-15th. COMMON LOON - a single bird was seen at Howe Island on 12th. TRUMPETER SWAN - a good number of records are coming from the Rideau Canal with this week's high count of 49 coming from Chaffey's Locks on 12th. SNOWY OWL - the balance of birds between the two islands seems to have settled with a high of 14 on Amherst on 14th and a high of 17 on Wolfe Island on 13th. Please keep your distance to reduce negative impacts and always respect private property. CAROLINA WREN - a single was present at a private feeder just north of Kingston on 12th. HERMIT THRUSH - a late bird was seen on Amherst Island on 12th. EVENING GROSBEAK - there were no records from the local area this week. PINE GROSBEAK - there were far fewer reports this week with a high of 9 birds, just north of Kingston on 17th. COMMON REDPOLL - there was an increase in the number of sightings across the region this week, with a high of 380 at Howe Island on 17th. PINE SISKIN - there were just 2 single records this week, with birds seen at Howe Island on 12th and just north of Kingston on 16th. LAPLAND LONGSPUR - not a good winter for this species though a couple of records came from Wolfe Island this week where 3 were seen on Bennett Road on 11th and 1 was on 4th Line on 12th. SNOW BUNTING - there was a noticeable increase for this species this week with birds seen at many locations on the island and mainland. A high count of 600 came from Wolfe Island on 13th. WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW - a single bird was seen at a private feeder in Kingston on 16th. SAVANNAH SPARROW - a single was seen just across the border at Point Peninsula, NY, on 18th. SWAMP SPARROW - 2 birds were at Amherst Island on 14th. EASTERN TOWHEE - a single bird continues just across the border at Beadles Point Road, NY, and was seen on 13th. RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD - 28 birds were seen at a feeder on Howe Island on 16th, with a further 10 birds at the east end ferry on 17th. COMMON GRACKLE - a lone bird was seen at the west end of Amherst Island on 14th. ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER - a wintering bird was reported from Amherst Island on 18th. In order to minimise disturbance to wildlife and property in the recording area, Kingston Field Naturalists has adopted the KFN Sensitive Sightings Policy <http://kingstonfieldnaturalists.org/birding/KFN_sensitive_sightings_policy. pdf> . Please note that you must be a card-carrying member of Kingston Field Naturalists (KFN), or be accompanied by a member, to access both the Martin Edwards Reserve and Amherstview Sewage Lagoons. As always, a big thank you goes to all those who have submitted sightings directly or via eBird. Mark. Mark D. Read 337 Button Bay Road, Wolfe Island, Kingston, Ontario K0H 2Y0 Canada Mobile: +1 (613) 217-1246 Email: <mailto:markdr...@gmail.com> markdr...@gmail.com 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 (OFO) - 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 Visit the OFO Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/OntarioFieldOrnithologists
