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Kingston Area Birds: 29th January – 4th February 2022

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. Species underlined in bold type require completion of a rare bird report available on the KFN website or directly from me. If indicated, an OBRC report may be required instead (http://www.ofo.ca/site/Obrcreport).

Highlights:

It’s been yet another very cold week, with continuing light snow events adding to an already deep snow base. Inland waterbodies are frozen and Lake Ontario is pretty solid in the Kingston area. Several lingering local goodies continued but overall it was a fairly quiet week. Here are the highlights of the past week:

TRUMPETER SWAN – High counts came from Chaffey’s Locks where 81 were seen on 29th; Lower Brewers Locks with 27 on 2nd; and Bedford Mills with 25 on 31st.

NORTHERN PINTAIL – single males were seen at Kingston Mills 2nd-3rd, and at the Invista pond, Kingston, on 1st.

PIED-BILLED GREBE – a single bird was refound at Kingston Mills (2nd-4th), with another continuing bird just outside the area at Picton Marina.

ICELAND GULL – a single bird was at Millhaven (ferry to Amherst) 2nd-3rd.

LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL – an adult was at the above location on 2nd.

GLAUCOUS GULL – at least two have been seen in the vicinity of Amherst Island this week.

DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT – two birds remain in the area – one at the Amherst Island ferry in Millhaven and the other at the Glenora crossing.

ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK – Amherst has again been consistently better than Wolfe, though numbers do appear to be declining. 19 birds were seen on Amherst on 30th, with 12 on Wolfe on 29th.

YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER – 4 birds continued in the area this week.

PEREGRINE FALCON – birds were seen in Kingston on 1st and 4th, with another at Millhaven on 2nd.

NORTHERN SHRIKE – there were just 2 reports this week; from Inverary on 3rd and Amherst Island on 2nd.

TUFTED TITMOUSE – a continuing bird was noted on the road to Howe Island on 2nd and 4th.

HORNED LARK – numbers picked up a bit this week, but the species is under-represented in the area.

CAROLINA WREN – birds continued at Marshlands CA, Kingston, and Channelview Road this week, both seen on 2nd.

NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD – a continuing bird was seen at Marshlands CA, Kingston, 30th-2nd.

HERMIT THRUSH – at least 9 birds were reported this week, an exceptional year.

EVENING GROSBEAK – 17 birds continued in the Verona, being seen on 4th.

PINE GROSBEAK – no reports.

COMMON REDPOLL – this species is not really making any inroads to the area this winter, though 30 birds were seen on Amherst Island on 29th.

PINE SISKIN – there were just 3 records this week with a high of 3 at Bur Brook Road on 1st.

LAPLAND LONGSPUR – 5 birds was noted on Wolfe Island on 29th, but a high count of 21 came from Concession 3, Hay Bay, the same day.

SNOW BUNTING – Wolfe Island again had the majority of birds this week, with 400 seen there on 29th.

FOX SPARROW – an additional bird was seen this week at Parrott’s Bay on 31st.

WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW – as many as 4 birds continue at Gananoque, with singles also on Wolfe Island on 29th and Kingston on 30th.

VESPER SPARROW – a single bird was found near Anderson on 29th, and was seen in the same general are on 30th.

SAVANNAH SPARROW – as many as 5 birds were again seen in the Hay Bay area this week.

SWAMP SPARROW – a single bird was seen at Little Cataraqui Creek, Kingston, on 4th.

EASTERN TOWHEE – the female found in the Woodburn area last week continues as of today (4th), with a male at Kaiser Cross Road, Prince Edward, on 30th.

RUSTY BLACKBIRD – as many as 10 birds continued in the vicinity of Prince Edward Point this week.

COMMON GRACKLE – a lone bird was seen near Marble Rock 2nd-3rd.

YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER – 2 birds were seen along the south shore of Hay Bay on 30th, with an additional 2 at Cressy Point, Prince Edward, the same day.

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. Permits are being checked on a regular basis at Amherstview and those without are being evicted. KFN members wishing to enter the Invista property, must enter through the west gate and show their membership card to security.

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

Canada

Mobile: +1 (613) 217-1246

Email: markdread@gmail.com