[Ontbirds] Algonquin Park Birding Update: 8 April 2010

[Ron Tozer]

The last lake along Highway 60 to become free of ice,
Opeongo (Algonquin's largest lake), opened up on April 7.
This was the earliest date ever for Opeongo in 47 years,
beating the previous earliest on 12 April 1981. Only rare
snow patches in extremely deep shade remain. Wood
Frogs and Spring Peepers were calling on April 2, a
record early date for both. Spring Beauty is in
bloom, and probably Trout Lily as well now, both likely
earlier than ever noted before.

Interestingly, many lakes opened up before Common Loons
returned. There had been loon reports from only two
lakes as of April 7. Loons typically arrive in Algonquin
when the first small areas of open water appear.

Most migrants are arriving early, and three all-time
early records were set this week: Canada Goose
(interior subspecies), Common Loon and Osprey. A
female Giant Canada Goose incubating eggs along
Costello Creek on April 4 was the earliest ever found
here.

New migrants reported this week included:

April 1: Canada Goose (interior subspecies), Bufflehead,
Northern Harrier, Eastern Phoebe

April 2: Turkey Vulture, American Woodcock,
Ring-billed Gull, Winter Wren, Fox Sparrow,
Eastern Meadowlark

April 3: Common Loon, Killdeer, Mourning Dove,
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Northern Flicker, Tree Swallow

April 4: American Kestrel, Wilson's Snipe, Savannah
Sparrow

April 5: Osprey, Rusty Blackbird

April 6: Yellow-rumped Warbler


Other Species of Interest:

Bald Eagle: Two were over the Old Airfield on April 4,
and one was at Jake Lake on April 5.

Spruce Grouse: A male was along the Opeongo Road
on April 3.

Black-backed Woodpecker: Look in the km 8 area and
try Barred Owl calls to get them to respond.

Gray Jay: One was at Wolf Howl Pond on April 4, and two
were at the Visitor Centre feeders on April 7. The first nestlings
were banded by Dan Strickland this week, again a record
early date.

Boreal Chickadee: Try Opeongo Road and the old railway
from Arowhon Road to Wolf Howl Pond. Listen for the
distinctive calls.

Bohemian Waxwing: Five were feeding on common juniper
berries at the lookout on Barron Canyon Trail (accessible
from Pembroke area via Barron Canyon Road) on April 2.

Pine Siskin: Three (including a singing male) were at the
Visitor Centre on April 7.

Evening Grosbeak: A few have been fairly regular at the
Visitor Centre.


We would appreciate receiving your bird observations
for our Visitor Centre records. Weekend visitors are
encouraged to add their observations of newly arrived
migrants to the sheets posted in the Visitor Centre lobby.


Ron Tozer
Algonquin Park Naturalist (retired)
Dwight, ON

Directions:
Algonquin Park is three hours north of Toronto, via
Highways 400, 11 and 60. Follow the signs, which start in
Toronto on Highway 400. From Ottawa, take Highway 17
to Renfrew, then follow Highway 60 to the park. Kilometre
markers along Highway 60 in the Park go from the West Gate
(km 0) to near the East Gate (km 56). Get your park permit
and the park tabloid (with a map of birding locations
mentioned here) at the gates.

The Visitor Centre at km 43 has details on recent sightings,
feeders, and park information, and is open this weekend from
10 am to 5 pm.  Hot and cold drinks and snacks are available
in the restaurant, but not full meal service.

Birder access to the Visitor Centre through the service
entrance to observe the feeders is usually possible on
weekdays.

Algonquin Park birding updates and information are also
available at: www.algonquinpark.on.ca 


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[Ontbirds] Presqu'ile Birding Report for Week Ending April 8, 2010.

[Fred Helleiner]

The past week could not fail to satisfy the most demanding of birders at 
Presqu'ile Provincial Park.  Both land birds and water birds have been 
abundant and to list all of the new arrivals from Friday onwards would 
take too much space and would probably bore people who know that these 
birds should be expected.


Well after dark on April 4, a TRUMPETER SWAN was calling repeatedly in 
the marsh.  Two days later it (or another) was in the calf pasture 
cove.  BLUE-WINGED TEALS and NORTHERN PINTAILS  are among the dabbling 
ducks that have been in the Park this week.  One observer who has been 
regularly checking for RED-THROATED LOONS in Popham Bay since late last 
month has seen at least one, and as many as ten, of that species on 
every occasion this month.  Success in finding these frustratingly 
difficult birds depends on patiently scanning the distant waters with a 
scope and hoping that the birds surface long enough to be detected.  
Waves and fog can be a problem.  Both HORNED and RED-NECKED GREBES 
appeared in small numbers during the past week. An early AMERICAN 
BITTERN was found on April 3.  The only GREAT EGRET of the year so far 
sat obligingly in full view for most of the morning on the same day, 
showing off its plumes as it rested in a tree.


TURKEY VULTURES and OSPREYS have both been seen in the past week.  There 
have been at least four sightings of the WILD TURKEY that has been 
lurking for many weeks on Bayshore Road.  WILSON'S SNIPE, BONAPARTE'S 
GULL, and CASPIAN TERN are all back in good numbers.  An adult LESSER 
BLACK-BACKED GULL was on Gull Island on April 4.  Getting an early start 
enabled one observer to locate three BARRED OWLS in one morning, 
probably all members of the resident families.  A COMMON RAVEN was 
present on two days.


TREE and BARN SWALLOWS are the only aerial insectivores present at 
Presqu'ile, but other swallow species should arrive within a few days.  
The first RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS appeared this morning.  The first HERMIT 
THRUSH on April 2 was rather early, but others have been seen since 
then.  Two YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS on April 7 were also rather early, and 
are a welcome foretaste of the warbler invasion that is eagerly 
anticipated every year at this time.  In the meantime, the pulse of 
sparrows migrating through the Park has already begun, with sightings 
of  FIELD, SAVANNAH, FOX, and SWAMP SPARROWS, as well as an EASTERN 
TOWHEE.  A RUSTY BLACKBIRD was identified by its call as it flew over on 
April 2.  Small numbers of PURPLE FINCHES have also arrived.


To reach Presqu'ile Provincial Park, follow the signs from Brighton. 
Locations within the Park are shown on a map at the back of a tabloid 
that is available at the Park gate.   Access to the offshore islands is 
restricted at this time of year to prevent disturbance to the colonial 
nesting birds there.  Birders are encouraged to record their 
observations on the bird sightings board provided near the campground 
office by The Friends of Presqu'ile Park and to fill out a rare bird 
report for species not listed there.


--
--
Fred Helleiner

186 Bayshore Road,
Brighton, Ontario, Canada, K0K 1H0
VOICE: (613) 475 5309
If visiting, access via Presqu'ile Provincial Park.


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[Ontbirds] Migrants in Thickson's Woods

[Dennis]

Hi, again,
By late afternoon the winds had dropped, but so had bird song.  The one 
consistent singer was a single male Pine Warbler easily visible as it fed in 
the upper branches of deciduous trees toward the north/centre part of the 
woods.  Several Yellow-rumps were singing snatches of song as were the few 
Ruby-crowned Kinglets mixed in with the many Golden-crowns.  This morning I 
heard the faster bubblier song of a Purple Finch, easily distinguished from the 
more subdued songs of resident House Finches.
Leaves on the shrub understory of choke cherry in the woods are already 
opening, which doesn't bode well for warbler viewing a month from now.  The 
good news is that early springs produce more warbler rarities in Thickson's 
Woods, as species breeding primarily further south tend to overshoot more 
frequently in late April than later in May.  Notable in this regard are Hooded 
Warblers.
For those who have been inquiring about the resident Great Horned Owls, 
they are heard most often from high in the large pines in the south central 
part of the woods.  However, they usually remain very well hidden and are 
difficult to spot. They tend to call in the evening, so may be easier to locate 
then.
The Carolina Wren that I heard singing in the woods a week ago, has not 
been found since.




Dennis


Thickson's Woods Nature Reserve is at the foot of Thickson Road at Lake 
Ontario.  Exit #401 in Whitby and go south to the Waterfront Trail.  Park on 
Thickson Road and walk east along the Waterfront Trail.  The path into the 
woods is on the right.  Birds will be concentrated on whatever side of the 
woods is sheltered from the wind whenever you visit, or where the morning suns 
warms the trees early on cool mornings.  The row of spruces that Margaret and I 
planted more than twenty years ago along the norh side of the Waterfront Trail, 
now provide a windbreak that creates a microclimate  conducive to good bug and 
bird activity along this section of the Trail.  Please be aware that Trail 
users have the right-of-way and avoid blocking bicycle and pedestrian traffic 
by birding from the centre of the roadway.
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[Ontbirds] WNY Dial-a-Bird 08 Apr 2010

[dfsuggs]

- RBA
* New York
* Buffalo
* 04/08/2010
* NYBU1004.08
- Birds mentioned
  -
 Please phone in rare sightings for update
 Submit email to dfsuggs localnet com
 Thank you, David
 -

 EURASIAN WIGEON
 Pied-billed Grebe
 American Bittern
 Blue-winged Teal
 Osprey
 Bald Eagle
 Ruffed Grouse
 Wild Turkey
 Wilson's Snipe
 American Woodcock
 Barred Owl
 Red-bellied Wdpkr.
 Yellow-b. Sapsucker
 Eastern Phoebe
 Horned Lark
 Tree Swallow
 Barn Swallow
 Common Raven
 Brown Creeper
 Winter Wren
 Golden-cr. Kinglet
 Ruby-cr. Kinglet
 Hermit Thrush
 Brown Thrasher
 Pine Warbler
 Eastern Towhee
 Chipping Sparrow
 Field Sparrow
 Savannah Sparrow
 Fox Sparrow
 Swamp Sparrow
 White-thr. Sparrow
 Lapland Longspur
 Red-w. Blackbird
 Eastern Meadowlark
 Rusty Blackbird
 Brown-headed Cowbird
 Purple Finch

- Transcript
 Hotline: Dial-a-Bird at the Buffalo Museum of Science
 Date: 04/08/2010
 Number:   716-896-1271
 To Report:Same
 Compiler: David F. Suggs (dfsuggs at localnet com)
 Coverage: Western New York and adjacent Ontario
 Website:  www.BOSBirding.org

 Thursday April 8, 2010

 Dial-a-Bird is a service provided by your Buffalo Museum of  Science 
and the Buffalo Ornithological Society. Press (2) to  leave a message, 
(3) for updates, meeting and field trip  information and (4) for 
instructions on how to report  sightings. To contact the Science 
Museum, call 896-5200.


 Highlights of reports received April 1 through April 8 from  the 
Niagara Frontier Region include EURASIAN WIGEONS and  early spring 
migrants.


 From the Oak Orchard Wildlife Management Area, April 3, two  EURASIAN 
WIGEONS among abundant AMERICAN WIGEONS at Goose  Pond, on Albion Road 
in the Town of Oakfield.


 At least 14 waterfowl species in the Oak Orchard, Iroquois  and 
Tonawanda areas this week included arriving BLUE-WINGED  TEAL. Also in 
the refuges, AMERICAN BITTERN, BALD EAGLES on  nest at Cayuga Pool and 
OSPREYS on the power line nest on  Ditch Road. On Tibbets Road in the 
Iroquois Refuge, WILSON'S  SNIPE, HORNED LARK and LAPLAND LONGSPUR. 
Other LAPLAND  LONGSPURS over the Goose Pond overlook.


 Arrival reports this week - PIED-BILLED GREBE at Beaver  Island State 
Park on Grand Island. RUBY-CR. KINGLET and PINE  WARBLER in a Town of 
Wilson yard and three more PINE  WARBLERS at Emery Park in the Town of 
Wales in southern Erie  County. HERMIT THRUSH at Forest Lawn Cemetery 
in Buffalo. A  pair of BROWN THRASHERS in the Allegany County Town of  
Alfred. And, EASTERN TOWHEE in North Buffalo.


 Other widely reported species - YELLOW-B. SAPSUCKER, EASTERN  PHOEBE, 
TREE SWALLOW, BARN SWALLOW, BROWN CREEPER, WINTER  WREN, GOLDEN-CR. 
KINGLET, CHIPPING SPARROW, FIELD SPARROW,  SAVANNAH SPARROW, FOX 
SPARROW, SWAMP SPARROW, WHITE-THR.  SPARROW, female RED-W. BLACKBIRD, 
EASTERN MEADOWLARK and  PURPLE FINCH.


 On Savage Road in the Town of Sardinia, three BALD EAGLES  have been 
feeding on a deer carcass and field mice for two  weeks. BALD EAGLE 
also at Navy Island, a former and possible  future breeding site for 
eagles on the upper Niagara River.


 Other recent reports - RUFFED GROUSE displaying and WILD  TURKEY 
calling in the Cattaraugus County Town of Hinsdale.  An unexpected WILD 
TURKEY in Buffalo at Main Street and  Kensington Avenue. AMERICAN 
WOODCOCK in Holland and along  the backroads of Orangeville in Wyoming 
County. BARRED OWL  and COMMON RAVEN at Foster Lake in Alfred. 
RED-BELLIED  WDPKR. at Elmlawn Cemetery in Tonawanda. 50 RUSTY 
BLACKBIRDS  in the Tonawanda Wildlife Management Area and 20 RUSTY  
BLACKBIRDS at Beaver Island State Park. And, a flock of  BROWN-HEADED 
COWBIRDS on an annual stop at a feeder in  Lewiston.


 Dial-a-Bird will be updated Thursday evening, April 15.  Please call 
in your sightings by noon Thursday. You may  report sightings after the 
tone. Thank you for calling and  reporting to Dial-a-Bird.


- End Transcript



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[Ontbirds] Ottawa area: Red-headed Woodpecker and Red-shouldered Hawk

[Bruce Di Labio]

Hello Ontbirders

This afternoon I observed 1 adult Red-headed Woodpecker at the "Old Burn site" 
at Constance Bay. This is the 9th consecutive year for the woodpecker at this 
site and the earliest date. Last year, 1 was observed on April 23rd which, 
then, was the earliest date. Normally they arrive back around mid May. Also had 
5 Red-shouldered Hawks, 2 at Constance Bay, 2 near Dunrobin along 5th Line Road 
and 1 at Constance Creek and Thomas Dolan Parkway. 
Good Birding, Bruce

Please review OFO's Ethical Birding Principles and (RHWO).  Please do not use 
IPods/CD/tapes to call the bird out. The area is small, but you do require 
patience. 

Directions: Constance Bay: RHWP: From Ottawa travel west bound on Hwy. 417 to 
the March Rd./Eagleson Road and exit right onto March Rd. Follow to Dunrobin 
Road and turn right  continuing northwest  through Woodlawn. At the hill turn 
right onto Constance Bay Rd following it for approx. 1.5 km. Turn left on 
Allbirch Road and drive 1.3 km to the " T "  intersection. Turn left on Bishop 
Davis Drive and then right on Bayview Drive.  Follow Bayview Drive to Ritchie 
St. Turn right and go a short distance to Whistler Rd. Turn left and drive .3 
km and watch for a gate on the right. The trail through the burn area is 
opposite the gate. Parking is limited.

Di Labio Birding Website
Courses and Field Trips
http://www.dilabiobirding.ca
http://www.brucedilabio.blogspot.com

Bruce Di Labio
400 Donald B. Munro Drive
P.O. Box 538
Carp, Ontario
K0A 1L0 
Office 613-839-4395 Mobile 613-715-2571

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[Ontbirds] Upper Canada Sanctuary directions

[Patrick Blake]

Sorry folks, the directions should read "turn right or WEST onto Hwy 2," not 
east.
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[Ontbirds] Upper Canada Bird Sanctuary - Interesting D-E Junco

[Patrick Blake]

Birding was relatively slow at the Sanctuary this afternoon, due to the wind 
and brisk conditions on the St. Lawrence.  Very little in the way of waterfowl, 
with a few pairs of COMMON MERGANSERS and GREEN-WINGED TEALS, along with 
numerous CANADA GEESE.  The highlight of the afternoon was what I believe to be 
a "CASSIAR" DARK-EYED JUNCO, which was foraging with about a half-dozen of the 
typical "slate-coloured" subspecies.  I was unable to get a photograph of this 
junco, but it was almost the spitting image of the examples provided by Mark 
Szantyr at http://www.oceanwanderers.com/JuncoID.html - I reviewed this website 
from an ONTBirds posting back in December 2009 by Andrew Keaveney.


I doubt this junco will be relocated as the flocks are quite mobile now, but if 
you're in the area it may be worth a look.  The flock was foraging on Nairne 
Island near the wooded picnic area, just south of the Sanctuary proper.


Good birding!


DIRECTIONS: From the 401, take exit 770 south to Ingleside.  Turn right or east 
onto Hwy 2 and follow until you see the sign for the Sanctuary (approx. 5km).
  
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[Ontbirds] Newmarket-Bradford-Keswick Area Birds

[RON FLEMING]

Rain and wind have limited birding the last few days but the Easter weekend 
produced some interesting sightings.  While cycling on Good Friday I heard 
numerous Easter(n) Phoebes and Easter(n) Meadowlarks singing between Bradford 
and Beeton but my best bird was an early VESPER SPARROW.  It flushed up from 
the roadside ditch when I was riding west on Line 9 east of Hwy. 27, flashing 
its white outer-tail feathers like a big beige junco.  It then sat long enough 
on a fencepost for me to sling my binoculars up and see its white eye-ring 
before it jumped down into the brushy edge of a big field.
 
NORTHERN FLICKERS seemed to materialize overnight, appearing on Friday in 
several different places around Newmarket and Bradford, calling from treetops 
and flying in long undulations across various roads, fields and 
forests.  GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS were singing their high,sweet songs in the 
Cawthra Mulock Reserve and many other locations over the weekend.  
 
On Saturday morning in southwest Keswick Bruce Brydon found at least a dozen 
PECTORAL SANDPIPERS in the flooded field at the end of Yonge St. south 
of Ravenshoe Road.  There were also several NORTHERN SHOVELERS, AMERICAN 
WIGEON, and a few NORTHERN PINTAIL present at this location.  John Watson 
relocated the same birds on Sunday and I found the same selection (Pectorals 
included) Easter Monday.
 
Bruce also checked Cook's Bay on Saturday - he had calling PIED-BILLED GREBE, 
an AMERICAN COOT and many, many ducks - RING-NECKED, BUFFLEHEAD, COMMON 
MERGANSER, more AMERICAN WIGEON and GREEN-WINGED TEAL.  The BALD EAGLES on 
territory (and staking out a nest) north of Ravenshoe Road were seen both 
Saturday and Monday.  They are in the heronry directly north of Best Asia Farms.
 
Ron Fleming, Newmarket
 
Newmarket, Bradford and Keswick are north of Toronto and south of Barrie
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[Ontbirds] Ist Yelow-rumped

[Neil E. Taylor]

The following were seen between 1:15 and 2:15 today at Taylor Woods.

 

Canada Goose 2

Wild Turkey 13 (2 Toms, 2 Jakes +)

Turkey Vulture 1

Ring-billed Gull 1

Mourning Dove 2 (pair mating)

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 1 (male)

Downy Woodpecker 5

Hairy Woodpecker 2

Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) 1

Eastern Phoebe 1

Blue Jay 1

American Crow 1

Black-capped Chickadee 7

Yellow-rumped Warbler 1

American Tree Sparrow 1

Dark-eyed Junco 11

Northern Cardinal 4

Red-winged Blackbird 7

House Finch 2

American Goldfinch 5

 


Directions to Taylor Woods


 

Taylor Woods is a private property located at 1016 Wilson Ave., Kitchener
close to Homer Watson Park.  This property is accessed by a private drive
between the Colt plant and the Bell depot yard.   It overlooks the Grand
River.

 

For out-of-town folk, please take 401 to the Homer Watson exit (one exit
west of # 8 exit).  Follow Homer Watson into Kitchener and take about the
5th light at Manitou and turn right onto Manitou.  Turn right onto Wabanaki
at the next set of lights.  At the top of a small hill, turn right onto
Wilson Ave.  Proceed about 100 metres along Wilson.  Note the white chain
link fence on your left (east) that encloses the Bell telephone depot.  At
the end of the fence, turn left onto the private drive that appears to lead
to the Colt plant.  Follow the drive on the south side of the depot until
you see mailboxes and the drive that leads to the Taylor residence which is
the bird feeding station known as Taylor Woods.  Veer to right just past the
sign.  The feeders are around the white Taylor house with the blue steel
shake roof.  Birders are welcome.  Posted by Neil E. Taylor (owner)
519-893-6469.

 

 

"If I keep a green bough in my heart, the singing bird will come." - Chinese
Proverb

 

"You must have the bird in your heart before you can find it in the bush"  -
John Burroughs (1908) essay: Art of Seeing Things

 

  neiletay...@sympatico.ca

 
http://www.sentex.net/~tntcomm/kwfn/index.html ---KWFN Web Page

 

Neil E. Taylor

1016 Wilson Ave.

Kitchener ON 

N2C 1J2

Tel. 519-893-6469

 

"In the end, we conserve only what we love, we will love only what we
understand and we will understand only what we are taught." -- Baba Dioum

 

"I have a room all to myself; it is Nature.  It is a place beyond the
jurisdiction of human government." -  (Author unknown)

 

"Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience." - Ralph Waldo Emerson
(1803-1882)

 

"The richness I achieve comes from nature, the source of my inspiration." -
Claude Monet

 

Life Member - Bird Studies Canada (BSC)

Life Member - Ontario Nature (ON)

Life Member - Ontario Field Ornithologists (OFO)

Honorary Life Member - (2008) Kitchener-Waterloo Field Naturalists (KWFN)

Conservation Award - (2008) Kitchener-Waterloo Field Naturalists (KWFN)

 

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[Ontbirds] Trumpeter Swans, Eurasian Wigeon Westmeath

[Chris]

Hi All,

Seven TRUMPETER SWANS and a male EURASIAN WIGEON were highlights of a walk
into Bellow's Bay in Westmeath Provincial Park yesterday.  As well there
were SANDHILL CRANES calling along the Ottawa River, a BALD EAGLE, NORTHERN
PINTAIL, NORTHERN SHOVELER, GREATER SCAUP, LESSER SCAUP, MALLARD, AMERICAN
BLACK DUCK, COMMON GOLDENEYE, RING-NECKED DUCK, GREEN-WINGED TEAL,
BLUE-WINGED TEAL, WOOD DUCK, AMERICAN WIGEON in the bay.

The entrance to Westmeath Provincial Park is on Westmeath Rd.  From Pembroke
St. turn east onto the Beachburg Rd., go 6 km to the left turn onto
Westmeath Rd.  The park is about 4.5 km. down on your left.  Park at the
gate and walk or cycle in.  The driveway is dry.  After about 1.5 km. in and
past the open water on your left, take the right fork () and follow the
north shore of Bellow's Bay.  There are a few paths that take you down to
the water.  The last one is about 1.6 km down the bay where the driveway
takes a turn to the left.

Chris Michener
Golden Lake, ON

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[Ontbirds] Common Raven - Oakville

[Kip Daynard]

On Saturday Apr. 3rd around 1pm my wife and I saw a Common Raven flying
southwards over Hwy 407 in Oakville between Tremaine Rd. and Appleby Line.
Judging from past reports they turn up in Hamilton area not too
infrequently, but I'd never seen one in this neck of the woods before.

Gravenhurst, ON

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[Ontbirds] Rufous-Sided Towhee, Veery and Fox Sparrow, Whitby

[Gloria Garvie]

Last evening at about 6:30 I had a rufous-sided towhee, a veery and a fox
sparrow all at the same time and within close proximity of each other,
feeding on the ground in my backyard under a feeder and below some bushes.
My yard backs onto Pringle Creek in Whitby. The rufous sided towhee is
actively feeding still this a.m. in the rain.

Two days ago,  a female rose-breasted grosbeak was present at a feeder in my
yard as well and seems to be still appearing on occasion.

Happy birding, happy spring,
Gloria Garvie

Email me privately if you wish further info @ glogar...@gmail.com
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[Ontbirds] Thickson's Woods Thursday, 10:30 a.m. Yellow-rumped Warblers singing

[Dennis]

Hi,
Despite a cold wind and frequent showers, there was plenty of song in 
Thickson's Woods this morning, including the first Yellow-rumped Warblers I 
have heard singing this spring.  Other songsters included Winter Wrens, Juncos 
and Chipping and Fox Sparrows.
With a cold front arriving, most individuals will probably remain for at 
least the next couple of days.



Dennis Barry


Thickson's Woods Nature Reserve is at the foot of Thickson Road at Lake 
Ontario.  Exit #401 in Whitby and go south to the Waterfront Trail.  Park on 
Thickson Road and walk east along the Waterfront Trail.  The path into the 
woods is on the right.  Birds will be concentrated on whatever side of the 
woods is sheltered from the wind whenever you visit.
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[Ontbirds] Amherst Island Birding: Migrants

[Bruce Di Labio]

Hello Ontbirders
Spent most of yesterday birding various areas on Amherst Island before the rain 
started in the afternoon. The Owl Woods had a small variety of land birds 
including 4 Ruby-crowned Kinglet, 1 Brown Thrasher, 1 Field Sparrow and 2 
Hermit Thrush, all singing. At the East Point (KFN property) there was a good 
selection of water birds.  Highlights included 150+ Bonaparte's Gull, 175+ 
American Wigeon, 200+ Gadwall, 3 Greater Yellowlegs, and 500+ Long-tailed Duck. 
Along the South Shore Road 1 Common Loon, 1 Red-necked Grebe and 6 Horned Grebe 
were observed. In the open fields a number of Savannah Sparrows and Eastern 
Meadowlarks were singing while 4 Rough-legged Hawks, 9 Northern Harrier, 5 
Red-tailed Hawk and 3 American Kestrel were seen. 

Good Birding, Bruce

Directions: 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 $8.00 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.  

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/ ."


Di Labio Birding Website
Courses and Field Trips
http://www.dilabiobirding.ca
http://www.brucedilabio.blogspot.com

Bruce Di Labio
400 Donald B. Munro Drive
P.O. Box 538
Carp, Ontario
K0A 1L0 
Office 613-839-4395 Mobile 613-715-2571

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