No rarities from the past week to report. Some early migrants were being seen in good numbers including small numbers of RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD, AMERICAN ROBIN and HORNED LARK in several locations. COMMON REDPOLL and AMERICAN GOLDFINCH continued to make up the majority of winter finch reports, but a few other species were also noted.
City of Kingston A BARRED OWL was at the intersection of Taylor Kidd Blvd and Gardiners Road. Waterbirds off Old Front Road included MUTE SWAN, GADWALL, GREATER SCAUP, COMMON GOLDENEYE, COMMON MERGANSER and RED-BREASTED MERGANSER. Additional species seen at Cataraqui/Elevator Bay were WOOD DUCK, AMERICAN BLACK DUCK, RING-NECKED DUCK and AMERICAN COOT. A single PINE GROSBEAK was at CFB Kingston. A CAROLINA WREN and a SONG SPARROW were on King Street. A NORTHERN SHRIKE and 2 PINE SISKINS were along Gore Road. The old Davis Tannery property had 3 GREEN-WINGED TEALS and 40 BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS. Amherst Island Birds on and off the island this past week included TUNDRA SWAN, GADWALL, REDHEAD, LESSER SCAUP, GREATER SCAUP, LONG-TAILED DUCK, BUFFLEHEAD, COMMON GOLDENEYE, COMMON and RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS, SHARP-SHINNED HAWK, ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK, GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL, SNOWY OWL, NORTHERN HARRIER, 1 NORTHERN FLICKER and AMERICAN KESTREL. Opinicon Road Waterfowl numbers and diversity began to build at Chaffey's Lock and included lots of CANADA GEESE, TRUMPETER SWAN, AMERICAN BLACK DUCK, MALLARD, RING-NECKED DUCK, COMMON GOLDENEYE, COMMON MERGANSER and HOODED MERGANSER. There were 5 BALD EAGLES at Lake Opinicon. A BARRED OWL, an EASTERN SCREECH-OWL, a RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER and 2 RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES were at Queen's University Biological Station. Wolfe Island Notable birds on the island included NORTHERN HARRIER, RED-TAILED HAWK, SNOWY OWL and 1 MERLIN. Other Observations A RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER was near Violet. The Hay Bay area had 7 EASTERN BLUEBIRDS, 2 BARRED OWLS and a SONG SPARROW. A BELTED KINGFISHER was at Charleston Lake Provincial Park. Thanks to all those who submitted observations this past week. Mark -- Mark Andrew Conboy Operations & Research Assistant and Outreach Coordinator Queen’s University Biological Station 280 Queen's University Road Elgin, Ontario, Canada K0G 1E0 phone: 613-359-5629 fax: 613-533-6617 email: mark.con...@queensu.ca or mcon...@lakeheadu.ca QUBS website: http://www.queensu.ca/qubs/index.html QUBS blog: http://opinicon.wordpress.com/ QUBS flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/qubsoutreach/ _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/