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:
Migration slowed as the winds swung back to a more northerly direction but
folks still got out to log what they could. Major waterways are now open,
with many smaller inland waterbodies also opening up. Snow cover is mainly
patchy. A good variety of waterfowl continued and winter finches seem to
persist in fair numbers. Here are the highlights of the past week:
SNOW GOOSE – the only sighting this week was of 90 at Lansdowne on 13th.
CACKLING GOOSE – 5 birds were noted on Amherst Island on 13th.
TRUMPETER SWAN – With birds continuing to disperse, the highest count this
week came from Opinicon Road where 13 birds were seen on 19th.
TUNDRA SWAN -sightings came from an increasing number of locations across
the area this week. A high count of 45 came from Kingston’s inner harbour on
17th.
WOOD DUCK – now widespread in low numbers.
NORTHERN PINTAIL – widespread with a high of 120 at Kaiser Cross Road,
Prince Edward, on 18th.
REDHEAD – good numbers are returning to the area with 3500 at Waupoos on
18th.
SANDHILL CRANE – there were several sightings of this increasing species in
the area this week, with 3 noted near Camden Lake on 14th and 3 near Moscow
on 14th and 17th.
KILLDEER – widespread in low numbers.
AMERICAN WOODCOCK – singles were noted on Howe Island on 17th and
Amherstview on 18th.
COMMON LOON – the first of the season was seen at Gananoque on 17th.
DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT – 4 birds were seen at Millhaven on 18th, with
another one on Amherst Island the same day.
BLACK VULTURE – outside the area, the continuing bird was seen at Picton on
16th.
GOLDEN EAGLE – birds were seen in Kingston on 13th and 16th, and at Perth
Road Village on 14th.
RED-SHOULDERED HAWK – sightings were fairly widespread this week. Most were
single birds but 2 were seen at Charleston Lake on 16th and 2 on Opinicon
Road on 17th.
ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK – it was another good week for this species on Amherst
Island with 37 reported there on 18th.
YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER – a continuing bird was seen at Fairway Hill Park,
Kingston, on 18th.
RED-HEADED WOODPECKER – a single bird (that may have been present for much
of the winter) was seen on Chaffey’s Lock Road on several dates this week.
PEREGRINE FALCON – Kingston’s downtown bird was seen on 16th and 17th, with
other sightings coming from Gananoque and Prince Edward point, both on 13th.
NORTHERN SHRIKE – 4 different birds were reported this week, two of which
were seen on Wolfe Island.
TUFTED TITMOUSE – a single bird was heard at a private location near Murvale
on 15th.
HERMIT THRUSH – a continuing bird was seen at Bur Brook Road, Kingston, on
15th.
HOARY REDPOLL – there continue to be reports of mainly single birds from
across the region but the number of sightings is generally falling, though 3
were again noted in the Alwington area of Kingston on several dates this
week. A ‘hornemanni’ example was seen at the same location on 16th.
RED CROSSBILL – 5 birds were seen on Amherst Island on 13th, with 1 still
there on 18th. Another 5 were seen at Rapid Valley on 14th, with 13 at Burnt
Hills Road on 17th.
WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL – 3 birds were seen at Waupoos on 13th.
PINE SISKIN – 1-2 birds were seen at Brewers Mills on 13th/14th, with 3 on
Amherst Island on 18th.
SNOW BUNTING – there were just 2 observations this week: 20 were seen near
Murvale on 17th and 9 were near Verona on 18th.
FIELD SPARROW – a single bird was seen near Verona on 15th and 17th.
SWAMP SPARROW – 1 bird continued at Prince Edward Point, being seen on 13th.
EASTERN MEADOWLARK – there were several reports this week but most came from
Amherst Island where 12 were noted on 18th.
RUSTY BLACKBIRD – an assumed migrant was seen at Seeley’s Bay on 17th.
PINE WARBLER – it is unclear whether this is an early bird or a previously
unreported over-wintering bird, but a single was seen at Camden East on
17th.
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
K0H 2Y0