The Kingston Field Naturalists did their annual fall round-up last weekend. It turned out to be mainly waterfowl viewing as land birds were relatively scarce. The largest concentrations of ducks and geese were in the Cataraqui River near Belle Island (several Ruddy Ducks), Elevator Bay (a pair of Surf Scoters) and the sewage lagoons; no unusual ducks but dozens of Bonaparte's Gulls and a surprising eight species of shorebird. Amherst and Wolfe Islands as well as Hay Bay contributed to the total. The waters off Prince Edward Point had lots of Long-tailed Ducks, Red-breasted Mergansers and Horned Grebes. This week's sightings suggest that we are moving into winter despite the weather. There were 161 common Goldeneye on Lake Opinicon on Tuesday and 3 Double-crested Cormorants at RMC yesterday. Two Bald Eagles were at the Queen's Biological Staion (QUBS) on Monday and the almost full moon prompted a Great Horned Owl to call near Glenburnie on Tuesday and an E. Screech Owl near Sydenham on Wednesday. Snow Buntings were reported along the Florida Road and at RMC this week. There was a small group of White-winged Crossbills at Lemoine Point last Friday and Pine Siskins seem to be moving through with 34 at QUBS on Tuesday and another 6 today. The odd Purple Finch is showing up at feeders and the Red-bellied Woodpecker has returned to the Elginburg feeder. Cheers, Peter Good Kingston Field Naturalist 613 378-6605 _______________________________________________ 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/
