No major rarities to report from the past week. As the final days of 2012 are upon us maybe birders will be out in full force next week hoping to punctuate their year lists with one or two more interesting species. The usual winter species were fairly widespread including a fair number of RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES. There were only a few finches reported aside from both REDPOLLS and AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES.
City of Kingston The long-staying NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD remained behind the Gardiner's Towncentre at the corner of Bath and Gardiners Roads in the city's west end. Thirty five BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS were at the Cataraqui Cemetery. Elevator Bay (aka Cataraqui Bay) had the best assortment of waterbirds in the region including TUNDRA SWAN, GADWALL, AMERICAN WIGEON, REDHEAD, 30 RING-NECKED DUCKS, GREATER SCAUP, BUFFLEHEAD, all three MERGANSER species and AMERICAN COOT. Other birds at that location included 1 GREAT HORNED OWL, 1 AMERICAN KESTREL and 1 NORTHERN SHRIKE. The Lemoine Point Conservation Area had 2 BARRED OWLS, 1 NORTHERN FLICKER, 1 BROWN CREEPER and 1 WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL. A SHARP-SHINNED HAWK was on Gore Road. A MERLIN was in downtown Kingston. A COOPER'S HAWK, 1 AMERICAN ROBIN and 14 PINE GROSBEAKS were at Colin's Bay. A pair of TRUMPETER SWANS were at Kingston Mills. Amherst Island Very raptors reported this past week. Other species of note were 2 RED-BELLIED WOODPECKERS, 1 NORTHERN SHRIKE, 1 COMMON RAVEN and 20 BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS. Bedford Mills The most interesting birds in Bedford Mills were a SHARP-SHINNED HAWK, a COOPER'S HAWK, a RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER, a RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD, a COMMON GRACKLE and a single HOARY REDPOLL among the COMMON REDPOLLS. Wolfe Island The most notable birds from the island were 6 TUNDRA SWANS and 2 SNOWY OWLS. There are not all that many raptors on Wolfe Island either. Other Observations Waterbirds off Amherstview's Fairfield Park included 1 WHITE-WINGED SCOTER and 1 COMMON LOON. Another COMMON LOON was near Parrott's Bay. A HOARY REDPOLL was near Battersea. A MERLIN was at Rockport. A BALD EAGLE was at Charleston Lake. Thanks to all those who submitted observation this past week. Happy holiday birding. 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/
