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. Note: some sightings may require review and remain unconfirmed unless stated otherwise.
Highlights: Although the warmer weather of the last week has opened up some areas of water and cleared the majority of roads, the diversity and number of birds has remained somewhat consistent. Highlights include; CANVASBACK, BARROW'S GOLDENEYE, NORTHERN GOSHAWK, continuing SNOWY OWLS, RED-HEADED WOODPECKER, RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER, TUFTED TITMOUSE, EASTERN BLUEBIRD, YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS, HORNED LARK, and LAPLAND LONGSPUR. City of Kingston Two SNOWY OWLS have been regular at the Invista/Cataraqui Bay area this past week, where a NORTHERN SHRIKE has also become far more consistent. Waterfowl numbers and diversity have changed somewhat at the site with RING-NECKED DUCK now departed. However, a male CANVASBACK and a NORTHERN PINTAIL both showed up for a couple of days before the recent melt. A BELTED KINGFISHER was seen at the same location twice this week and two were (bizarrely) seen flying over town on 15th. GREAT BLUE HERON sightings have come in from the Days Road area on the 12th and Belle Park on 9th. Wolfe Island The island is still the best place to see SNOWY OWLS. Twelve were seen yesterday (16th) on the west side of the island, with 9 there today. Rather scarce after the cold snap, a ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK was seen on the island today, as well as the more regular SNOW BUNTINGS, NORTHERN SHRIKE and 4 HORNED LARKS. Howe Island The TUFTED TITMOUSE continues to be regularly seen on Havenwood Trail, as does the EASTERN SCREECH-OWL, though a daily COOPER'S HAWK is enjoying some of the attention too. WHITE-THROATED SPARROW and RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER is occasionally seen at the same location. Amherst Island Sightings of SNOWY OWLS continue from Amherst but numbers are far lower than on Wolfe. SHORT-EARED OWLS can occasionally be seen hunting the fields. A LAPLAND LONGSPUR continues but is very elusive. Prince Edward Point A BARROW'S GOLDENEYE reported on the 14th was unfortunately a one day wonder but those looking for it over the next day or so found all three species of scoter including an accommodating pair of BLACK SCOTER at Point Traverse. Also seen at the same location was a TURKEY VULTURE, quite the find at this time of year. In the same general area was also 1 SHORT-EARED OWL, 3 COMMON GRACKLES and 17 BROWN-HEADED COWBIRDS. Other Sightings East of the city, the long-staying RED-HEADED WOODPECKER has been seen a few times this week at Gananoque Golf Club, where a RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER can also often be seen. Further east near Lansdowne, a LAPLAND LONGSPUR was again seen this week, though is by no means easy. An impressive flock of 600 SNOW BUNTINGS was quite a spectacle near Lansdowne Dump though gulls of any species are somewhat scarce there at the moment. North of the city, TRUMPETER SWANS have been noted along the Rideau Canal from Black Rapids to Lower Brewers Locks. EASTERN BLUEBIRDS continue to be seen at many locations though those near Elginburg have been seen almost daily. The FOX SPARROW reported from Bedford Mills was last seen on 12th. West of the city, a NORTHERN GOSHAWK was spotted near the Lennox and Addington Generating Station on 16th. Across the river, at Henderson, NY, YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS seem to be in good numbers with as many as 16 counted in a single flock on 13th. Finally, two separate reports of EVENING GROSBEAK have come to light, dating from the end of last week, one from Kingston and the other from 1000 Islands area. Details are sketchy but always worth looking out for. Thanks to all those who submitted sightings over the last week. Mark. Mark D. Read 47 Ellerbeck Street, Unit 1, Kingston, Ontario K7L 4H7 Canada Mobile: +1 613 2171246 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/ _______________________________________________ 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
