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 send records directly to me – contact details below. Please note that some sightings may require review and remain unconfirmed unless stated otherwise.
Special Note re Owl Woods
Owl Woods is privately owned, but a long-standing agreement allows visitors to enter the property. However, the owners insist that all owl sightings at this location are not reported on any social media platform (including eBird) until the season is over, or we risk losing access. Although owls are occasionally seen at other nearby locations, disguising your owl wood sightings as ‘Amherst Island’ or even ‘Lennox and Addington’ goes against the spirit of the message.
Highlights:
A dumping of snow on 2nd has stayed with us for the week, concentrating many of the winter finches, though waterfowl remain rather widespread since waterways are, on the whole, mainly open, particularly along the Lake Ontario shoreline. Some of the better sightings this week include Ross’s Goose on Wolfe Island, Blue-winged Teal in Kingston, and an adult Gyrfalcon on Wolfe. Here are the highlights of the past week:
SNOW GOOSE – singles were on Amherst Island from 2nd – 6th, and at Bath on 4th.
ROSS’S GOOSE – the individual seen at Reed’s Bay, Wolfe Island, has not been seen since 3rd.
CACKLING GOOSE – numbers dropped a little this week with up to 4 birds at each of Reed’s Bay, Wolfe Island, and Bath.
TRUMPETER SWAN – It was a poor week for this species with high counts of just 5 each at Chaffey’s Locks on 5th and Sydenham on 2nd.
TUNDRA SWAN – numbers seem to be falling off for this species with a high of 39 recorded at Belle Park, Kingston, on 7th.
BLUE-WINGED TEAL – two males were seen at Belle Park, Kingston, on 7th.
NORTHERN SHOVELER – the continuing male has now set up at Lemoine Point CA, Kingston, where it was seen regularly all week.
GREEN-WINGED TEAL – birds continued at Lemoine Point (1 male) and Belle Park (up to 9 birds) all week.
CANVASBACK – Two birds were seen at Cataraqui Bay, Kingston, on 5th and 8th.
RUDDY DUCK – a single female was present at the Wolfe Island ferry from 3rd to 6th.
GLAUCOUS GULL – up to 2 birds have been seen over the week at Bath, with 2 also seen at Lansdowne dump on 7th and 1 at Violet Dump, also on 7th.
ICELAND GULL – Singles were seen at Prince Edward Point on 3rd, 6th and 7th, as well as Heritage Point, Bath, on 4th and 6th, and Violet Dump on 7th.
COMMON LOON – 1 bird was seen at Centennial Park, Bath, on 6th.
GOLDEN EAGLE – an immature bird was seen at a presumed carcass near Elgin on 2nd.
RED-SHOULDERED HAWK – a single bird was seen at Gananoque on 4th.
ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK – numbers on Amherst Island have dropped this week with a high of 12 on 3rd. However, sightings across the general Kingston area have increased this week.
YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER – a female bird continued at a private feeder at Bedford Mills and was seen on 29th and 1st.
GYRFALCON – a grey adult was seen well on 4th Line, Wolfe Island on 2nd and 4th, and was likely also seen on 29th Dec on 5th Line. No sightings since.
PEREGRINE FALCON – One of Kingston’s downtown birds was seen on 4th and 7th, with another seen near Napanee on 5th.
NORTHERN SHRIKE – 9 different birds were noted at a range of locations this week.
CAROLINA WREN – birds were seen at Balsam Grove, Kingston, on 2nd, 4th, and 8th; at Ravensview on 6th; and Devil Lake on 4th.
HERMIT THRUSH – a single bird was seen near Verona on 4th and 2 birds were seen at Marshlands CA, Kingston, on 5th.
BOHEMIAN WAXWING – still not really making into the area, a flock of 39 birds was seen near Lyndhurst on 7th.
EVENING GROSBEAK – as many as 14 birds have been coming to a feeder at Perth Road Village this week, with up to 20 near Verona, also over the week.
PINE GROSBEAK – there were several widespread observations this week, but the high count of 17 came from the Rideau Heights area of Kingston where they have been seen all week. 16 birds were also seen at Willowbank on 7th.
HOARY REDPOLL – sightings came from Wolfe and Amherst Islands this week with 2 seen on Wolfe on 4th. A single bird was also seen at Cressy Bayside Road, Prince Edward, on 2nd.
RED CROSSBILL – it was a much quieter week for this species with 1 seen near Verona on 2nd, and 2 on Bur Brook Road, Kingston, also on 2nd.
WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL – no reports this week.
PINE SISKIN – 1 bird continued near Brewer’s Mills on 3rd and 6th, with 14 seen at Bur Brook Road, Kingston on 7th, and lesser numbers on previous dates.
LAPLAND LONGSPUR – the snowy conditions brought this species out of the woodwork with several records from Wolfe Island, and others on Amherst Island, and also near Lansdowne. However, the high count was just 6 birds, seen on Wolfe on 2nd.
SNOW BUNTING – numbers picked up across the region this week. The islands were good with over 400 consistently reported from Wolfe, though a flock of 320 was also seen near Lansdowne on 2nd.
WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW – singles were seen near Prince Edward Point on 2nd and 3rd, with the Gambel’s subspecies seen at Button Bay, Wolfe Island, on 3rd and 4th. Another continuing bird was seen at Balsam Grove, Kingston, on 7th.
SWAMP SPARROW – there were numerous records this past week, totalling at least 12 different birds. High counts of 4 came from Big Sandy Bay, Wolfe Island, on 4th and 3 at Marshlands CA, Kingston, on 5th.
EASTERN TOWHEE – a male was seen and photographed at Amherstview on 7th.
In order to minimise disturbance to wildlife and property in the recording area, Kingston Field Naturalists has adopted the KFN Sensitive Sightings Policy. 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