[Ontbirds] New Year’s Day OFO outing

[dave milsom via ONTBIRDS]

13 birders enjoyed a mild day birding the Peterborough area, Port Hope and 
Cobourg harbours. Highlights included 6 Bald Eagles along the Otonabee River 
corridor, Rough legged, Red-tailed hawks, American Kestrel, Merlin and 
Peregrine falcons. Also found 2 Northern Shrikes, the long-staying male 
Harlequin in Port Hope harbour, adult Glaucous and Iceland gulls, a leucistic 
Herring Gull, White-winged Scoter, CedarWaxwings, Robins, and a Cackling Goose 
at Garden Hill.

Dave Milsom & Matthew Tobey

Sent from my iPhone
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[Ontbirds] West Elgin CBC results - December 27, 2019

[George Prieksaitis via ONTBIRDS]

The West Elgin Nature Club 71st CBC was held on December 27th, 2019.



The unseasonably mild weather resulted in all of the local ponds, streams and 
rivers along with Lake Erie being virtually free of ice.   A total of 42 
observers tallied 11,257 birds of 80 species. A Double-crested Cormorant, 
Northern Mockingbird and Wood Duck were observed during the count week bringing 
the species tally to 83. The count total was slightly above our ten year 
average of 75 species but below our average total birds of 14,600 and well 
above the Count’s overall 71 year average of 68 species but below our 71 year 
average total of 13,775 birds. Low counts in Dark-eyed Juncos, Horned Larks and 
Snow Bunting were offset by higher than normal counts on ducks, geese and gulls.



A lone Sora was the only new species added for the count. It was first heard 
and then seen at the West Lorne Sewage Lagoon. That makes 155 species that been 
identified on the West Elgin CBC since it was started in 1947.Other notable 
sightings in 2019 were – Horned Grebe 1; Long-tailed Duck 2, White-winged 
Scoter 5, Iceland Gull 1, Long-eared Owl 1, Short-eared Owl 2, Barred Owl 1, 
Eastern Phoebe 1, Tufted Titmouse 3, Winter Wren 1, Hermit Thrush 1, Northern 
Shrike 1, Yellow-rumped Warbler 1; Field Sparrow 1, White-crowned Sparrow 1, 
and Chipping Sparrow 1.



High although not record numbers of Canada Geese (697), Ring-billed Gulls 
(4,170), Mourning Doves (632), Screech Owls (37), Great-horned Owls (11), 
Turkey Vultures (18), Brown-headed Cowbirds (1,051) and Red-winged Blackbirds 
(58) were made possible by the open, food rich corn fields, low winds the night 
before, and generally mild temperatures and pleasant winds the day of the 
count.  It was certainly one of the warmest days that this counter can ever 
remember on a West Elgin CBC – I saw moths and insects flying by the lake (that 
the Eastern Phoebe was hawking from a tree branch) and even saw a Wooly Bear 
caterpillar crawling around the bottom of the Eagle Pump House building!



Unfortunate misses included virtually all winter finches except a lone Purple 
Finch, Snow Bunting, Golden Eagle, Ring-necked Pheasant, Ruffed Grouse and most 
puddle ducks beyond Mallard and 2 Black Ducks.



A fine pot-luck dinner and program about Hawk Cliff was enjoyed by the group at 
the end of a long day.  Thanks to all of the participants and I look forward to 
seeing everyone again on the 2020 count!


Cheers,
George Prieksaitis




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[Ontbirds] Kingston Area Birds: 28th December 2019 - 3rd January 2020

[Mark D. Read via ONTBIRDS]

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 send records
directly to me - contact details below. Please note that some sightings may
require review and remain unconfirmed unless stated otherwise.

 

Highlights:

It was another good week in the area with a mix of interesting sightings,
including the continuing Spotted Towhee at Prince Edward Point. The weather
was mainly mild with inland waterbodies remaining mainly frozen. Lake
Ontario, on the other hand,  is mainly open. Here are the highlights of the
last week:

 

GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE - the adult bird, reported last week at Button
Bay, Wolfe Island, was seen again on 28th and 29th.

CACKLING GOOSE - a single bird was seen at Button Bay, Wolfe Island, on
28th.

TRUMPETER SWAN - this week's high count again came from Bedford Mills where
62 (matching last week's high) were seen on 28th.

NORTHERN SHOVELER - the male first seen a couple of weeks ago at Hillview
Pond, Kingston, was seen again at that location on 2nd.

CANVASBACK - as many as 8 birds have been seen from 1st - 3rd at Cataraqui
Bay, Kingston.

PIED-BILLED GREBE - an unconfirmed report of a breeding-plumaged bird came
from Amherst Island today (3rd).

HORNED GREBE - two birds have been seen on the way to Prince Edward Point
from 1st - 3rd with another seen on Amherst Island today.

GLAUCOUS GULL - the only report this week was of a single bird at Violet
Dump on 1st.

COMMON LOON - 2 birds were seen at Collin's Bay, Kingston, on 1st, with
another at the Wolfe Island ferry on 3rd. At least 1, possibly more, was
seen on today's CBC on Amherst Island.

ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK - there were more reports this week than last (11 vs 4)
but this species is not proving easy to track down this year.

SNOWY OWL - the holiday period brought more visitors to the islands but high
counts are down with maxima of 5 on Wolfe Island on 2nd and 4 on Amherst on
28th.

NORTHERN SHRIKE - singles were observed at Prince Edward Point on 1st and
3rd and in Kingston on 2nd.

RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET - 2 birds were seen on Amherst Island on 28th.

NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD - the 2 birds found at Portsmouth Olympic Harbour,
Kingston, on 11th December continued all week along the fence line with
Kingston Penitentiary.

HERMIT THRUSH - a single bird was seen on Bur Brook Road, north of Kingston,
on 29th.

SNOW BUNTING/LAPLAND LONSPUR - no reports this week.

SPOTTED TOWHEE - this long-staying, brightly-coloured, male continued to be
seen at Prince Edward Point this week, and has now been seen by many
appreciative 2020 listers.

COMMON GRACKLE - as many as 15 birds were seen at Prince Edward Point this
week. 

 

In order to minimise disturbance to wildlife and property in the recording
area, Kingston Field Naturalists has adopted the KFN Sensitive Sightings
Policy
 . 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:   markdr...@gmail.com

eBird Guidelines for Reporting Sensitive Species
 

 

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