No major rarities to report from this past week, however the long staying NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD was notable (see below). BALD EAGLES are now a common sight in the shield country north of the city. COMMON REDPOLLS and AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES were widespread but there weren't many other winter finches reported.
City of Kingston A NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD continues to be seen behind the Metro grocery store at the southeast corner of the Gardiners Town Plaza (corner of Gardiners Road and Bath Road). The Little Cataraqui Creek Conservation Area had a variety of interesting birds including a BROWN CREEPER, SONG SPARROW, SWAMP SPARROW and a small flock of PINE GROSBEAKS. Waterbirds on the Cataraqui River included GADWALL, RING-NECKED DUCK, GREATER SCAUP, BUFFLEHEAD, COMMON GOLDENEYE, COMMON MERGANSER and AMERICAN COOT. Most of those waterfowl species seem to be fairly widespread along the Lake Ontario shoreline at present. A SHARP-SHINNED HAWK was seen in the city's west end. Six SANDHILL CRANES flew over downtown on Dec 10. Amherst Island Waterbirds off the island this week included 65 TUNDRA SWANS. Raptorial birds included NORTHERN HARRIER, 1 NORTHERN GOSHAWK, RED-TAILED HAWK, ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK, SNOWY OWL, LONG-EARED OWL, SHORT-EARED OWL, AMERICAN KESTREL. Also of note were 4 COMMON RAVENS. Wolfe Island Birds seen on Wolfe this past week included TUNDRA SWAN, BONAPARTE'S GULL, NORTHERN HARRIER, 1 COOPER'S HAWK, SNOWY OWL, AMERICAN KESTREL, 1 PEREGRINE FALCON and 1 NORTHERN SHRIKE. A WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW was at Big Sandy Bay. Other Observations 45 BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS were near Charleston Lake Provincial Park. There was a RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER at Bedford Mills. Thanks to everyone who submitted observations. Mark -- Mark Andrew Conboy Operations & Research Assistant and Outreach Coordinator Queen’s University Biological Station 280 Queen's University Road Elgin, Ontario, Canada K0G 1E0 phone: 613-359-5629 fax: 613-359-6558 email: [email protected] or [email protected] QUBS website: http://www.queensu.ca/qubs/index.html QUBS blog: http://opinicon.wordpress.com/ QUBS flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/qubsoutreach/ _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to [email protected] For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
