There were two unusual reports this week. A hybrid GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE X CANADA GOOSE (Wolfe Island) was unusual for its novelty; the other was unusual for the time of year: a RUDDY DUCK (Amherstview). Otherwise the bulk of sightings below were made up of the more usual waterbirds, raptors and lingering warm weather species. HORNED LARKS are beginning to move back into the region heralding the beginning of a long and painful wait for spring. Winter finch numbers remain very poor.
City of Kingston Cataraqui Bay (aka Elevator Bay) and the Invista Lagoons are still supporting good numbers of waterbirds including over 350 GADWALL, AMERICAN WIGEON, RING-NECKED DUCK, both SCAUP, REDHEAD, CANVASBACK, COMMON GOLDENEYE, COMMON MERGANSER, HOODED MERGANSER, AMERICAN COOT, GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL and 1 BELTED KINGFISHER. GADWALL and COMMON MERGANSER were the only waterfowl reported on the lakeshore off the Royal Military College this past week. A GLAUCOUS GULL was seen on the ice from the Causeway across the Cataraqui River. A NORTHERN SHRIKE was at Lemoine Point Conservation Area. Amherst Island Reports this week included 1 SNOW GOOSE, MUTE SWAN, 6 TUNDRA SWANS, GADWALL, AMERICAN BLACK DUCK, both SCAUPS, REDHEAD, LONG-TAILED DUCK, BUFFLEHEAD, 800 COMMON GOLDENEYES, all three MERGANSERS, 7 COMMON LOONS, 3 HORNED GREBES, 5 SNOWY OWLS, 1 BALD EAGLE, 10 NORTHERN HARRIERS, 25 ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS, 4 AMERICAN KESTRELS, 19 SHORT-EARED OWLS, 1 RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER, 2 NORTHERN SHRIKES, 3 EASTERN BLUEBIRDS, 100 AMERICAN ROBINS, 1 BROWN CREEPER, HORNED LARK and SNOW BUNTING. Bedford Mills The RUSTY BLACKBIRD and FIELD SPARROW continue to visit a feeder on Hardwood Lane. Up to 8 TRUMPETER SWANS can be seen at Bedford Mills on occasion. Opinicon Road Up to 12 TUMPETER SWANS can be seen at Chaffey’s Lock fairly regularly. The only other waterfowl to be reported from Chaffey’s lately are 6 CANADA GEESE. BALD EAGLES remain a common sight on Lake Opinicon with 7 scavenging on carrion at once on the 4th. A NORTHERN GOSHAWK was being harassed by 4 COMMON RAVENS over Poole Lake at Queen’s University Biological Station (QUBS). Also at QUBS were 2 BARRED OWLS, BROWN CREEPER, RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH, 62 COMMON REDPOLLS (briefly) and a lingering hardy SONG SPARROW. A NORTHERN SHRIKE was watching a bird feeder for potential prey on the outskirts of Chaffey’s Lock. One PINE SISKIN was at the lock station. Violet Dump Among the nearly 1000 HERRING GULLS were 40 GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULLS, 3 ICELAND GULLS and 1 GLAUCOUS GULL. Ten CEDAR WAXWINGS were also reported there. Wolfe Island A GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE X CANADA GOOSE HYBRID was among the most notable birds reported this past week. Other waterbirds included 18 MUTE SWANS, 80 TUNDRA SWANS, COMMON GOLDENEYE, COMMOM MERGANSER and RED-BREASTED MERGANSER. At least 9 SNOWY OWLS still remain on almost snow-free Wolfe Island. Other raptors reported from the island this week include 1 COOPER’S HAWK, 1 MERLIN, 1 AMERICAN KESTREL, 8 ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS, 8 NORTHERN HARRIERS and 3 BALD EAGLES. There was 1 COMMON LOON off the south shore and a handful of NORTHERN SHRIKES are scattered across the island. There were also 20 SNOW BUNTINGS and AMERICAN ROBIN reported. Other Sightings A male RUDDY DUCK was reported diving off Fairview Park in Amherstview. This species is practically unheard of here in winter. There was a BARRED OWL on Narrow’s Lock Road and an EASTERN SCREECH OWL on Howe Island. A NORTHERN GOSHAWK was on Blue Mountain Road near Charleston Lake. Four ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS were seen near Millhaven. A NORTHERN FLICKER was on County Road 42 near Crosby. Also on County Road 42, a male AMERICAN KESTREL that has been making periodic appearances this winter was seen just south of Westport. A flock of AMERICAN ROBINS was on Wilton Road near Harrowsmith. In a yard just off Battersea Road there were 75 CEDAR WAXWINGS. The YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER and RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER are still at an Elginburg feeder. Thank you to those who contributed observations this week. All bird sightings reported to me are included in the Kingston Field Naturalists’ long term records database which has over 60 years of observations on file and is an invaluable conservation resource. 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: 613-359-6558 email: 7m...@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/
