Kingston Field Naturalists (KFN) maintain records in a 50km radius of MacDonald Park, Kingston. Birders using eBird are encouraged to share their sightings with ‘Kingston FN’. Alternatively, please email records directly to me – contact details below. Please note that some sightings may require review and remain unconfirmed unless stated otherwise. Species in bold type require completion of a rare bird report available on the KFN website or directly from me. If indicated, an OBRC report may be required instead (http://www.ofo.ca/site/Obrcreport). Some iPhone users report that bold type may be replaced by asterisks.
Please note:
- This weekly report will not be available for the next few weeks whilst the compiler is downrange on a (birding) sabbatical.
- Owl Woods on Amherst Island will be closed from 21 November through to 11 December during the hunting season. Thank you everyone for your patience and respect to the owners of the property who have allowed us for many years to enjoy this treasure.
Overview:
The warm weather finally started to taper off, leading some of our long-staying fall migrants to check their watches and head south. Migrant duck numbers are steadily building up, with all the expected species being recorded including the elusive Canvasback and Ruddy Duck. Great Horned and Barred Owls are now calling, and the organizers of the Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas have asked that birders hearing calling owls file a report on the Nature Counts app or the Atlas website.
There were several interesting sightings this week, including multiple Cattle Egrets, a Hudsonian Godwit mini-flock, and a very late Rose-breasted Grosbeak.
Highlights:
SNOW GOOSE – one was seen at Button Bay on 10 November. The massive flocks normally seen east of Kingston (between Cornwall and Ottawa) have not yet materialized, perhaps due to the long spell of warm weather.
GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE – one was spotted among Canada Geese on the Napanee River on 5 November, and relocated on 7 November.
CACKLING GOOSE – at least one bird continued to 7 November at Finkle’s Shore Park west of Bath. One bird was seen at Raglan Street park in Napanee on the 10th.
TUNDRA SWAN – the fall Tundra Swan invasion is well on its way, with a high count for the week of 80 birds in Cataraqui Bay (11 November). Reed’s Bay, Button Bay and Sand Bay (all on Wolfe Island) should be good sites to check over the next week.
BLUE-WINGED TEAL – one was seen at Prince Edward Point NWA on 6 November, swimming with Mallards.
GREATER SCAUP – these ducks are here in force, with a high count of 1500 in Cataraqui Bay (11 November).
SANDHILL CRANE – 42 birds were seen and photographed on 6 November on Highway 15 between Crosby and Chaffey’s Lock Road, which is from just on the edge of the Kingston circle.
HUDSONIAN GODWIT – up to three were seen at Button Bay, Wolfe Island on 5, 6, 7, and 9 November – a highly unusual sighting – if one is lucky enough to see a godwit in this area it is almost always a solitary bird.
LESSER YELLOWLEGS – up to four were seen at Button Bay, Wolfe Island on 5 and 6 November.
LITTLE GULL – a single gull was spotted at Button Bay, Wolfe Island on 6 November.
GREAT EGRET – two were seen at both Belle Park and on Wolfe Island on 5 November.
CATTLE EGRET – a single bird was seen on 4th Line Road, Wolfe Island on 5, 6, and 7 November. Two were spotted at MacAlpine Road and Highway 2 on the 8th and again on the 11th.
BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON – one bird remained at Hillview Pond until at least the 9th.
GYRFALCON – one was observed during the hawk watch at Prince Edward Point NWA on 8 November.
TUFTED TITMOUSE – one bird visited a feeder in Bath on 6 November, and two were seen at Glenora on the 8th.
GRAY CATBIRD – one was observed at Prince Edward Point NWA on 8 November.
EVENING GROSBEAK –birds were seen by multiple observers at Prince Edward Point NWA throughout the week, with a high count of 75 on 8 November. So far most of the Evening Grosbeak action has been at Prince Edward Point but there are indications that this might be an irruption winter, so stay tuned!
RED CROSSBILL – three birds were present at Prince Edward Point NWA on 8 November.
WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL – three were spotted at Prince Edward Point NWA on 6 November.
FOX SPARROW – after a good movement the previous weekend, the number of sightings dropped. One bird was seen at Belle Park on 11 November. The average date of the last sighting is 10 November.
EASTERN TOWHEE – a late bird visited a feeder near Parrott’s Bay CA from 8 November and continued until at least the 10th.
COMMON YELLOWTHROAT – one was spotted in Belle Park on 11 November.
CAPE MAY WARBLER – one was seen at Long Point Road and Gravelly Bay Road (Prince Edward County) on 10 November, not too far off the date of latest bird on record.
ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK – a very late female bird was photographed at a feeder in Kingston on 8 November and reappeared until at least the 11th.
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. Permits are being checked on a regular basis at Amherstview and those without are being evicted. KFN members wishing to enter the Invista property must enter through the west gate and show their membership card to security.
As always, a big thank you goes to all those who have submitted sightings directly or via eBird.
Anthony
N. Anthony Kaduck
Kingston, Ontario
Email: kaduckintransit « at » googlemail.com