Kingston had another very successful Christmas bird count last Sunday Dec 18. The deep snow made walking in the bush somewhat difficult but milder temperatures meant lots of open water and therefore thousands of waterfowl. A Pacific Loon, Barrow's Goldeneye and an im. male King Eider were sighted off Wolfe Island. A Cackling Goose among the thousands of Canadas was new to the count. Thirty Snow Geese were a record high.
Other noteworthy sightings included Vesper Sparrow, Savannah Sparrow, 13 Bald Eagles, 2 Carolina Wrens, a Purple Sandpiper and a magnificient white phase Gyrfalcon. Count week birds included Double-crested Cormorant, Common Moorhen, Raven, Hermit Thrush, Rusty Blackbird and Brown Thrasher. Other high counts were Mourning Dove (977), Belted Kingfisher (6), B.C. Chickadee (1064), White-breasted Nuthatch (163) and Dark-eyed Junco (152).There were only 3 Snowy Owls sighted. The bird of the day however was a Le Conte's Sparrow found on Wolfe Island(photographed by Mike Runtz and Kurt Hennige). This brought the day's total to 103 species with the possibility that one or two more could be added as results from feeder watchers trickle in. The week following the count had very few reports; even really keen birders get busy with other things the week before Christmas. A Golden Eagle was seen west of Millhaven and an Evening Grosbeak visited a feeder near Elginburg on the 21st. A trip to Amherst Island the same day tallied 5 Snowy Owls, 3 Rough-legged Hawks, a Northern Shrike and a Carolina Wren. As a reminder, the Amherst Christmas count is Friday Dec. 30; contact Janet Scott (613) 389-4608. Wishing one and all a very Merry Christmas! Peter Good Kingston Field Naturalists e-mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] phone 613 378 6605
