Amherst Island continues to be the local hotspot. The Owl Woods still has a
Boreal, up to 3 N. Saw-whets and a Barred Owl. The number of Long-eared has
dropped considerably (only one this week) as the Barred Owl has taken to eating
them. Also in the Owl Woods: a Ring-necked Pheasant, a Golden-crowned Kinglet
and a Red-bellied Woodpecker. Around the island, high counts for the week were
3 Snowy Owls, 22 Red-tailed and 11 Rough-legged Hawks, 8 N. Harriers, 3 Am.
Kestrels, a Bald Eagle, 2 Common Ravens and a flock of 200 Snow Buntings. In
the ferry channel there is a good variety including Am. Coot, Hooded Merganser,
Long-tailed Duck, and a Glaucous Gull among the numerous Mallards, Black Ducks,
Common Goldeneye, Herring and Great Black-backed Gulls. Off the south shore
there has been a flock of swans; about 15 Tundra and half a dozen Mute as well
as up to a hundred Gadwall.
The Dupont lagoon still has lots of birds but the selection has dropped to
Mallards, Black Ducks, Am. Coots and a lone scaup.
Out the Bath Road near the Lennox Generating Station there are good numbers of
Redhead, Greater Scaup and Common Goldeneye. Ice conditions are not always the
best for viewing these ducks but there have been Barrow's Goldeneye mixed in
and there are usually Bald Eagles standing on the ice.
Away from Lake Ontario there hasn't been much activity; an Am. Kestrel at
Moscow, a Cooper's Hawk on the Florida Road, a Peregrine Falcon in downtown
Kingston and Barred Owls at Newboro and Amherstview were the significant raptor
sightings. A fourth Tufted Titmouse was reported from Lyndhurst. The others
continue to visit feeders in Wilstead, Bath and on the Middle Road. Ninety-five
Wild Turkeys at Narrow's Lock is the fourth large flock seen this month. The
only finches of note were 90 Am. Goldfinches at Bedford Mills on Monday. For
some unknown reason mid-January has brought several sparrows out of hiding; a
Song at Camden East, a White-crowned at Wilstead and 3 White-throated on the
Middle Road.
Cheers,
Peter Good
Kingston Field Naturalists
613 378-6605
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