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Kingston Area Birds: 14th – 20th November 2020

By Mark Read

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

The privately-owned Owl Woods on Amherst Island are currently closed for the
annual hunt through to 6th December inclusive. Please respect this
long-standing agreement and stay out of the woods. If visiting at other
times and you do see owls, the owners insist that these 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:

The weather turned nippy again this week, confusing birds and birders alike.
Fox Sparrows and Hermit Thrushes continue much later than normal, though
numbers of winter finches (albeit a good diversity) are declining. A
Eurasian Wigeon seen in Kingston was the first in the area for a couple of
years. Here are the highlights of the past week:

SNOW GOOSE – a single bird was seen on Amherst Island on 14th.

CACKLING GOOSE – 2 birds were seen on Amherst Island on 12th.

TRUMPETER SWAN – numbers are yet to rebuild after the large flocks of a
month ago. A high count of just 6 came from Murphy’s Bay Wetland, near Davis
Lock, on 14th.

TUNDRA SWAN – it remains a good season for this species with a high count of
134 at Cataraqui Bay, Kingston, on 15th.

EURASIAN WIGEON – a female-type bird was seen at the Invista Pond, Kingston,
on 15th.

CANVASBACK – A single bird was seen at Marshlands CA, Kingston, on 14th with
3 just across the road at the Invista ponds on 15th.

RUDDY DUCK – 3 birds were still present at Marshlands CA, Kingston, on 15th.

RED-NECKED GREBE – a single bird was at the Invista pond, Kingston, on 15th
with 3 also seen off Amherst Island the same day.

SANDHILL CRANE – 3 birds were seen near Elgin on 19th.

RED-THROATED LOON – a single bird was seen at Horne’s Ferry, Wolfe Island,
on 15th.

GOLDEN EAGLE – a single bird was seen near Waupoos, Prince Edward, on 14th.

ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK – numbers on Amherst Island have dropped this week to a
maximum of 23 on 14th. Just 1 bird was seen on Wolfe Island, though 8 were
seen on Simcoe Island on 18th.

PEREGRINE FALCON – singles were seen at Portsmouth Olympic Harbour on 15th
and on Wolfe Island on 19th.

NORTHERN SHRIKE – there were just 3 sightings this week, all singles seen on
14th, from Verona, Wolfe Island, and Amherst Island.

MARSH WREN – a late bird individual was at Marshlands CA, Kingston, on 14th.

GRAY CATBIRD – a late bird was photographed at Prince Edward Point on 18th.

EVENING GROSBEAK – numbers have dropped off this week, though observations
are still coming from across the area. A high count of 6 birds came from a
property near Brewer’s Mills on 16th.

PINE GROSBEAK – singles were seen near Verona on 14th and 19th, 2 were at
Collin’s Creek, Kingston, on 17th and 4 at Prince Edward Point on 18th.

COMMON REDPOLL – this species is widespread across the area with a high of
80 at Gananoque on 16th.

HOARY REDPOLL – a single was seen on Wolfe Island on 15th, with 2 on Amherst
Island on 19th.

RED CROSSBILL – there were only two sightings this week: 15 were seen at
Harrowsmith on 14th, and 1 was at Parrott Bay CA, Amherstview, on 17th.

WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL – 2 birds were at Prince Edward Point on 14th, with 1
there on 18th. 20 birds were seen today (20th) at Little Cataraqui Creek CA,
Kingston.

PINE SISKIN – birds are being encountered less frequently and in low
numbers: 10 were seen near Bedford Mills on 20th.

LAPLAND LONGSPUR – 2 birds were noted on Amherst Island on 15th.

SNOW BUNTING – there were far fewer observations this week though a flock of
250 birds was encountered near Lansdowne on 15th.