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: Virtually all water has remained frozen, the best place to waterfowl being the 'warm water' outlet at Invista, Kingston. Conditions remain challenging but as the days lengthen both American Robin and House Finch have been heard singing. Highlights include; widespread TRUMPETER SWANS, CANVASBACK, SNOWY OWLS, RED-HEADED WOODPECKER, RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER, TUFTED TITMOUSE, FOX SPARROW, and RUSTY BLACKBIRD. City of Kingston The best place to search for birds in city this week was definitely Invista, where a male CANVASBACK stayed for a few days, in with almost 70 (mainly male) RING-NECKED DUCK. A SNOWY OWL and NORTHERN SHRIKE have also been fairly consistent. Also at Invista, a BALD EAGLE was seen feeding on a juvenile MUTE SWAN on 30th - apparently after catching this massive meal itself. Much of the carcass is still on the ice today. The resident BARRED OWL at Marshlands CA was again seen today but is by no means guaranteed. Both SONG SPARROW and WHITE-THROATED SPARROW have been coming to a private feeder on King Street West. Wolfe Island Birders seem to have neglected the island this week despite the fact that this is surely the best place to see SNOWY OWLS in the region. The male RUSTY BLACKBIRD reported at a feeder last week continues and was joined by a female on 28th. Howe Island The resident TUFTED TITMOUSE, EASTERN SCREECH-OWL and RED-BELLIED WOODPECKERS have continued to frequent feeders on Havenwood Trail throughout the week but birders have been advised to avoid a possibly wasted journey as both ferries have been struggling with the ice. This website (http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/traveller/ferry/index.shtml#Howe) provides phone numbers if in doubt. Amherst Island A couple of SNOWY OWLS continue on Amherst and a ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK was seen on 28th. NORTHERN SHRIKE, SNOW BUNTING and AMERICAN KESTREL are regularly encountered on the island but deep drifting snow has prevented access to the owl woods this week. A small area of open water on the south-east shore held LONG-TAILED DUCK, COMMON GOLDENEYE and RED-BREASTED MERGANSER during the week. Other Sightings East of the city, the long-staying RED-HEADED WOODPECKER is still present at Gananoque Golf Club. Further east near Lansdowne, both HORNED GREBE and a LONG-TAILED DUCK were seen on the Gananoque River on Marble Rock Road. Also present were a dozen PURPLE FINCH. Nearby, TUMPETER SWANS have been seen in fair numbers along the Wiltse Creek, which remains open, along with a variety of other waterfowl. A SNOWY OWL was seen on Fairfax Road and both HORNED LARKS and SNOW BUNTINGS are also still present. North of the city, the FOX SPARROW continues at a private feeder near Bedford Mills and was seen on 24th and 27th. At Lower Brewer's Mills Locks, TRUMPETER SWANS and REDHEAD have been seen. A SONG SPARROW was seen at a feeder near Elginburg on 28th. 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
