Waterfowl concentrations continue in the usual spots but the forecast for next week indicates that shallow bays will probably freeze over. The mix of ducks has taken on a distinct winter-like feel; more Bufflehead, Common Mergansers, Common Goldeneye, and Long-tailed Ducks. Swan numbers are building; 4 Tundra on Amherst last Sunday increased to three dozen by Wednesday. There were 5 Trumpeter Swans in the Cataraqui River yesterday and the male Eurasian Wigeon continues to be reported from Elevator Bay.
The owl picture remains relatively unchanged. In the Owl Woods the number of Long-eared Owls fluctuates from day to day. They have been reported almost every day this week; a low count of one on Sunday and a high of 13 on Wednesday. There were 2 N. Saw-whets on Sunday but the Barred hasn't been seen since Thursday Nov. 6th. So far there is only one Snowy Owl on Amherst; there was another at Elevator Bay a week ago and a late report had one near Varty Lake, northwest of the city on Nov. 5th. Short-eared Owls continue to be active at dusk south of Stella on Amherst Island. Note: the Owl Woods will be closed to public access because of deer hunting from Nov.17 to Dec. 6. The last (?) shorebirds were 4 Black-bellied Plover and a Dunlin on Amherst last Sunday. White-winged Crossbills were widely reported at the beginning of the week: Elginburg, Amherst Island, and Charleston Lake P.P. The Pine Siskin and Common Redpoll movement seems to have shut down. There were 2 Brown Creepers this week; on Amherst and near Camden East. There are continuing reports of Fox Sparrow, Purple Finch and Cedar Waxwing albeit in small numbers. A flock of 6 Eastern Bluebirds on Hwy 38 near Kepler was the highlight of the week for a couple of backyard birders. Cheers, Peter Good Kingston Field Naturalists 613 378-6605 _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list [email protected] For instructions to join or leave ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdssetup.php ONTBIRDS Guidelines may be viewed at http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdsguide.php
