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 remained very cold this week with all inland water bodies now frozen and Lake Ontario starting to freeze along sheltered shorelines. A number of continuing waterfowl were seen but it was, unexpectedly, a rather quiet week, though a Black Vulture continued just outside the circle in Prince Edward County. Here are the highlights of the past week:
SNOW GOOSE – a single bird was seen on Amherst Island on 23rd.
TRUMPETER SWAN – Lower Brewers Lock has had the high counts this week, with an incredible 130 seen there on 29th. This is the second highest count for the area on record. Good numbers were also seen at Chaffey’s Locks with 80 seen there on 24th. Bedford Mills had 33 birds on 26th.
TUNDRA SWAN – a few birds are still being seen but the majority have moved on. A high count of just 16 came from Bath on 28th.
WOOD DUCK – a male continued near Yarker to at least 26th.
NORTHERN PINTAIL – 2 males were seen at the Invista pond, Kingston, on 26th.
GREEN-WINGED TEAL – as many as 9 birds continue at Belle Park, Kingston, with another seen at the north end of the city on 28th.
COMMON LOON – a single bird was seen at Bath on 27th.
BLACK VULTURE – just outside the area, this known bird was again seen at roost with Turkey Vultures in Picton, Prince Edward, on 25th.
ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK – numbers have dropped noticeably with just 5 birds reported from Amherst Island this week, with 1-2 noted at just a couple of other locations, including Hughes Road, just north of Kingston.
PEREGRINE FALCON – Kingston’s downtown bird was seen on 29th.
NORTHERN SHRIKE – there were 7 different birds reported across the area this week.
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 – 9 different birds were seen this week, all in the immediate Kingston area. This winter is shaping up to be the best on record for this species.
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 26th, with another seen in the Alwington area of Kingston on 23rd and 29th.
BOHEMIAN WAXWING – there were 5 reports this week, mainly of low numbers but 100 were seen near Wilton on 29th.
EVENING GROSBEAK – 2 birds were seen at Perth Road Village on 23rd and 24th.
PINE GROSBEAK – No reports this week.
HOARY REDPOLL – there were 8 reports of mainly single birds from across the region this week.
RED CROSSBILL – 1-3 birds were seen near Verona on 23rd and 26th, with 1 on Bur Brook Road, just north of Kingston, on 24th.
WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL – 2 birds were noted in downtown Kingston on 26th.
PINE SISKIN – a single bird was seen on 2 occasions this week in the north end of Kingston.
LAPLAND LONGSPUR – no reports.
SNOW BUNTING – there were few reports this week, though 200 were seen at Kaiser Cross Road, Prince Edward, on 23rd.
GAMBEL’S WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW – an immature bird continued to 28th, at least, at a location near Prince Edward Point.
SWAMP SPARROW – 2 birds continued at Marshlands CA, Kingston, being seen on 23rd.
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.