Hello all,
Mark Conboy, Philina English, Martin Mallet, Jamie Morris-Pocock and I
spent the afternoon on Amherst Island following up on the report of
Boreal Owls by Bruce Di Labio yesterday. We found 3 Boreals at Owl
Woods; 1 in the cedars in the vicinity of the feeders and 2 in the
jack pine stand. There was also 1 Northern Saw-Whet Owl in the
cedars. The usual winter horde of 10-15 Long-eared Owls was milling
about in the jack pine stand, doubtless looking forward to the
constant disturbance that must mark their existence every winter
Boreal Owls show up in Owl Woods.
Along Front Road between Stella and Marshall 40 Foot Rd., we saw about
half a dozen Short-eared Owls in the fields on the south side of the
road at about 4pm - some perched, others actively hunting in the
growing snow flurries. We also had a single Snowy Owl, a heavily
marked bird, along this stretch of Front Rd. There was another, very
lightly marked Snowy Owl along Stella Rd. on the east side just south
of the municipal building/helicopter pad. Combined with the previous
sightings we ended up with a very tidy 5 species of owl in a 50 minute
window - not something to scoff at on a bitterly cold December
afternoon.
There were numerous Rough-legged Hawks (25+) and Northern Harriers
(~15 including one in the middle of the ferry crossing!) as well as
about half a dozen Red-tailed Hawks but no kestrels or shrikes. A
Red-bellied Woodpecker was in the vicinity of the Owl Woods feeders
and seemed to be foraging between there and the road. Not much else
of interest in the waterfowl or passerine lines, but still a very
successful few hours in the field. If more details are desired,
contact me privately.
Directions: 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. To reach the
Owl Woods, turn left (east) at the four-way stop sign by the general
store and drive 3.4 km along Front Rd. to the (seasonal) Marshall
Forty-Foot Rd. Marshall Forty-Foot Rd. is across the road from house
#2320. Drive along Marshall Rd. to the mid-way point, where there is
an S in the road (1.2 km, look for the K.F.N. kiosk which had owl
observing ethics). Park in the gravel lane or off the road edge.
Good birding,
Chris Kimber
Dept. of Biology, Queen's U.
Kingston, ON
___
ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial
birding organization.
Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS@hwcn.org
For instructions to join or leave ONTBIRDS visit
http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdssetup.php
ONTBIRDS Guidelines may be viewed at
http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdsguide.php
