Compiled 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 is 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:
With a mix of northerly winds, southerly winds, freezing temperatures, snow,
and unseasonably mild weather, it was bit of a weird week. Nothing
exceptional was seen, though many late migrants persist. As last week,
numbers of winter finches (albeit a good diversity) are declining. Here are
the highlights of the past week:
SNOW GOOSE – 5 birds were in fields near Napanee on 5th.
CACKLING GOOSE – Wolfe Island was the place to see this species this week
with 9 seen there on 24th.
TRUMPETER SWAN – numbers are slowly building but until the waterways and
lakes freeze, birds will remain widespread. That being said, 20 were seen on
North Sydenham Lake on 26th.
TUNDRA SWAN – numbers have dropped off a bit this week with the highest
single concentration of 55 at Marshlands CA, Kingston on 22nd.
WOOD DUCK – a male was at Bath on 26th.
RED-NECKED GREBE – a single bird was at the Howe Island ferry on 24th.
GREATER YELLOWLEGS – up to 4 birds were still being seen at Prince Edward
Point over the week, with another seen on Wolfe Island on 26th.
GLAUCOUS GULL – a single bird was seen on Amherst Island on 25th.
SANDHILL CRANE – this species was seen to pass through the general area in
large numbers this week with 200 seen near Deseronto on 21st and a further
22 at Bedford Mills the same day. Just outside the area, near Demorestville,
birds have been present daily since 24th with 147 seen there today (27th).
ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK – birds seem to be fairly widespread but by far the best
place to seem them is Amherst Island, where 21 were seen on 25th.
PEREGRINE FALCON – there were just 2 observations this week; 1 on Amherst
Island on 21st and another in downtown Kingston on 23rd.
EASTERN PHOEBE – a bird seen on Amherst Island on 21st was almost a month
later than expected.
NORTHERN SHRIKE – singles were noted on Wolfe Island, Amherst Island and
Bedford Mills on 21st with singles also reported from Gananoque on 22nd and
Prince Edward Point on 25th.
TUFTED TITMOUSE – a single bird has continued at Sandhurst Shores all week.
RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET – a late bird was seen in downtown Kingston on 21st.
MARSH WREN – a late individual was seen at Big Sandy Bay, Wolfe Island, on
21st.
GRAY CATBIRD – a late bird was seen at Prince Edward Point on 27th, possibly
the same bird as seen there on 18th.
HERMIT THRUSH – a single bird was seen at Frontenac Provincial Park on 21st.
EVENING GROSBEAK – there were far fewer birds seen this week, though the 43
seen at Bath on 23rd bucked this trend.
PINE GROSBEAK – birds were seen at four locations this week, the most
consistent being near Verona on several dates (1 bird). Other birds were
seen at Bath on 22nd (2), Bur Brook Road, just north of Kingston, on 23rd
and 24th (6), and near Gould Lake on 24th (3).
COMMON REDPOLL – this species remains widespread with high counts of 93 on
Amherst Island and 70 at Big Sandy Bay, Wolfe Island, both on 21st.
HOARY REDPOLL – a single bird was seen at Sandhurst Shores on 23rd and 24th,
with 2 on Amherst Island on 23rd.
RED CROSSBILL – the high count of 15 came just metres outside the area on
Quabbin Hill Road, near Charleston Lake Provincial Park, on 24th.
WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL – for this species and others, the 21st was a day of
movement with birds seen at Frontenac Park (5), Amherst Island (7), Little
Cataraqui Creek CA, Kingston (1), and the nearby location of Bur Brook Road
(1).
PINE SISKIN – as above, there were several sightings on 21st but mainly in
low numbers with a high count of 15 coming from Big Sandy Bay, Wolfe Island.
SNOW BUNTING – there were only 4 observations this week, with a high count
of 100 at Marysville, Wolf Island, on 24th.
CHIPPING SPARROW – a single bird was seen near Brewers Mills on 22nd.
EASTERN TOWHEE – a bird was seen and photographed near Marble Rock CA on
25th.
In order to minimise disturbance to wildlife and property in the recording
area, Kingston Field Naturalists has adopted the
<https://kingstonfieldnaturalists.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/KFN_sensiti
ve_sightings_policy.pdf> 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.