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 blast of extremely cold weather made short work of freezing over Lake
Ontario in the Kingston area with ferry crossings to the islands now reduced
to a narrow channel. A number of continuing waterfowl were seen and
all-in-all, it wasn’t a bad week for finches and less common over-wintering
rarities. Here are the highlights of the past week:
TRUMPETER SWAN – Lower Brewers Lock had a high count of 41 birds this week,
much lower than of late. Birds were noted at a number of other locks but all
in low numbers – where did they go?
TUNDRA SWAN – birds still remain in the area with 50 seen on Amherst Island
on 6th and 18 on Wolfe Island on 10th.
NORTHERN PINTAIL – 1-2 males were seen at the Invista pond, Kingston, on 7th
and 11th.
GREEN-WINGED TEAL – 8 birds continue at Belle Park, Kingston, being seen on
8th.
CANVASBACK – 1 bird was seen at the Invista pond, Kingston, on 11th.
RED-SHOULDERED HAWK – a continuing bird was seen at Gananoque throughout the
week.
ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK – 25 birds were seen on Amherst Island on 6th, but that is
by far the highest count anyway in the region this week.
YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER – birds were seen at Fairway Hill Park, Kingston,
from 8th – 12th, with another at Bedford Mills on 11th.
PEREGRINE FALCON – no sightings this week.
NORTHERN SHRIKE – there were just 3 birds reported this week, from
Charleston Lake, Kingston, and Gananoque.
TUFTED TITMOUSE – a single bird made a solid appearance at Fairway Hill
Park, Kingston, and was seen from 8th – 12th at least.
CAROLINA WREN – continuing birds were seen at Old Front Road and Balsam
Grove, Kingston this week, with a new bird seen at Prince Edward Point on
7th.
NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD – a continuing bird was seen near Prince Edward Point
on 7th and 12th, with a new find in the area of Fairway Hill Park, Kingston,
from 9th – 11th.
HERMIT THRUSH – 1-2 birds continued at Marshlands CA, Kingston, this week,
with another hanging on at Lemoine Point CA. A further bird was seen on the
Gananoque waterfront trail on 8th.
BOHEMIAN WAXWING – The only report within the circle was of approximately 50
birds at Camden East on 12th.
EVENING GROSBEAK – no reports this week.
PINE GROSBEAK – a single bird was noted in the Meadowbrook Park area of
Kingston on 11th.
HOARY REDPOLL – there were numerous reports of mainly single birds from
across the region this week, though it would appear that folks are
occasionally being mislead by the inherent variation in the Common Redpoll
population.
RED CROSSBILL – 5 birds were seen and photographed at Lemoine Point CA,
Kingston, on 12th.
WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL – 18 birds were seen in the Owl Woods, Amherst
Island, on 6th.
PINE SISKIN – birds were noted at just 3 locations this week, mainly 1-2,
but 16 were seen at Bur Brook Road, just north of Kingston, on 12th.
LAPLAND LONGSPUR – 1 bird was seen on Wolfe island on 10th.
SNOW BUNTING – there were widespread reports this week but the highest count
was of 200 on Wolfe Island on 10th.
GAMBEL’S WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW – an immature bird continued this week at a
location near Prince Edward Point, with the Wolfe Island adult bird being
seen 6th – 9th.
SAVANNAH SPARROW – 3 birds were seen on Fifth Line, Wolfe Island, on 10th.
SWAMP SPARROW – birds continue at Marshlands CA, and Little Cataraqui Creek
CA, both in Kingston.
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