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:
It certainly got colder this week, with some good snow to boot. However, the waterways still don’t know whether to freeze or stay open. A number of continuing waterfowl were seen but nothing extraordinary was noted other than a continuing Black Vulture in Prince Edward County. Here are the highlights of the past week:
CACKLING GOOSE – 2 birds were seen in fields near Joyceville on 17th.
TRUMPETER SWAN – Bedford Mills once again held the largest concentrations this week with 69 seen there on 19th. Lower Brewers Lock has also had good numbers with a high of 58 seen there on 20th. 21 birds were at Chafffey’s Lock on 17th.
TUNDRA SWAN – Wolfe and Amherst islands still have fair numbers of this species, with smaller numbers reported in Kingston’s inner harbour.
NORTHERN SHOVELER – the Lemoine Point, Kingston, bird was seen again this week on 18th and 20th. Another male was seen on Amherst Island on 22nd.
GREEN-WINGED TEAL – 4 birds continued at Belle Park, Kingston, being seen on 16th and 22nd.
CANVASBACK – The 2 birds at Cataraqui Bay, Kingston, were seen on 17th.
RUDDY DUCK – the known female at the Wolfe Island ferry, Kingston, was seen again on 22nd.
GLAUCOUS GULL – a single bird was seen at Collin’s Bay on 17th, with 2 at Violet dump on 21st.
HERRING x GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL – this known hybrid adult bird continues at Lansdowne dump and was seen on 20th.
ICELAND GULL – a single bird was seen at Violet dump on 21st.
COMMON LOON – birds continue in the area with 3 seen on Bath Road on 16th, and 1 off Howe Island on 18th.
BLACK VULTURE – just outside the area, this known bird was seen at roost with Turkey Vultures in Picton, Prince Edward, on 20th and 22nd.
RED-SHOULDERED HAWK – a continuing bird was seen in Gananoque on 17th and 19th.
ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK – although 24 were seen on 17th and 14 on 18th, numbers appear to have dropped on Amherst Island since then.
PEREGRINE FALCON – Kingston’s downtown bird was seen on 18th and 22nd.
NORTHERN SHRIKE – there were just 2 reports this week: single birds were seen on Amherst Island on 18th and at Invista, Kingston, on 21st.
TUFTED TITMOUSE – a single bird was seen at Sandhurst Shores on 16th, with now 2 birds at Cartwright’s Point, Kingston, seen on 17th and 20th.
CAROLINA WREN – 6 different birds were again seen this week, all in the Kingston area. This species does appear to be showing a sustained expansion in the area.
NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD – a single bird continued near Prince Edward Point and was seen on 3 occasions this week.
HERMIT THRUSH – a continuing bird was seen at Marshlands CA, Kingston, on 18th and 22nd, with another at Gananoque Provincial Wildlife Area on 19th.
BOHEMIAN WAXWING – the only report this week was of 25 on Jackson Mills Road, just north of Kingston, on 19th.
EVENING GROSBEAK – 4 birds were still coming to a feeder at Perth Road Village through to 21st.
PINE GROSBEAK – Sightings came from just a couple of locations but 8-15 birds were at Rideau Heights, Kingston, on 19th, with 5 at Willowbank on 20th.
HOARY REDPOLL – there were several reports of mainly singles from across the region this week.
RED CROSSBILL – 15 birds were seen near Verona on 18th.
WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL – birds were noted on Amherst island on 20th.
PINE SISKIN – the only location with birds this week was a private feeder on Bur Brook Road, Kingston, with up to 18 seen.
LAPLAND LONGSPUR – no reports.
SNOW BUNTING – not so many reports this week with highs of 110 on Bur Brook Road on 19th and 101 on Amherst Island on 22nd.
WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW – a single bird continued all week at a location near Prince Edward point.
OREGON DARK-EYED JUNCO – an individual of this distinctive subspecies was seen in Kingston on 17th.
SWAMP SPARROW – 3 birds continued at Marshlands CA, Kingston, seen on 22nd.
EASTERN TOWHEE – a male continued at Amherstview until 13th at least.
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 D. Read
337 Button Bay Road,
Wolfe Island,
Kingston, Ontario
K0H 2Y0