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: It was a mainly cold week in the Kingston area, though above freezing temperatures the last couple of days has opened up some water and cleared snow. Here are the highlights of the last week: TRUMPETER SWAN - birds have been moving around somewhat this week, being seen at brewers Mill, Chaffey's Locks and Bedford Mills, where this week's high of 92 was recorded on 19th. TUNDRA SWAN - 9 birds were present at Lower Brewers Lock on 17th dropping to 4 by 20th. NORTHERN PINTAIL - 1-2 birds have been regular in Kingston this week at either Invista or the Wolfe Island ferry dock. BLACK SCOTER - a single bird was seen at Prince Edward Point on 16th. BARROW'S GOLDENEYE - a male was seen and photographed at Ivy Lea on 16th. HORNED GREBE - a lone individual was present at Ivy Lea on 16th. TURKEY VULTURE - a single bird was seen at Prince Edward Point on 16th, with another bird at Odessa on 19th. GOLDEN EAGLE - a good sighting this week was of a single bird at Perth Road Village on 19th. NORTHERN GOSHAWK - an adult bird was seen on Amherst Island on 19th with an immature near Millhaven on 21st. SNOWY OWL - numbers of this species are way done compared to earlier in the season, meaning they are now tricky to find on either Amherst or Wolfe. If you do find one, please keep your distance to reduce negative impacts and always respect private property. GYRFALCON - a sighting of a grey bird (not aged) at the Wolfe Island ferry dock on 17th is likely the continuing bird. PEREGRINE FALCON - the downtown bird was seen on 4 days this week. HORNED LARK - a 'sure sign of spring' is the arrival of this species to the islands where they have been encountered frequently all week. HERMIT THRUSH - there were 2 separate birds this week with 1 at Marshlands CA on 18th and another off Princess Street on 20th. EVENING GROSBEAK - up to 7 birds were seen near Odessa on a couple of dates earlier in the week but there have been no other reports. PINE GROSBEAK - 17 birds were seen near Gananoque on 17th this week, with 2 near Brewers Mills on 19th and an unknown number near Glenburnie on 21st. COMMON REDPOLL - there were continued widespread sightings across the region this week, with 2-300 birds being consistently seen at a feeder near Verona HOARY REDPOLL - 2 birds were seen at a feeder in Yarker on 18th. LAPLAND LONGSPUR - all reports came from Wolfe Island where a high of 16 was encountered on 18th. SNOW BUNTING - there were numerous records from the islands this week with a modest 'high' of 130 on Wolfe on 18th. RUSTY BLACKBIRD - a single bird was seen on Amherst Island on 20th. 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