Kingston Field Naturalists (KFN) maintains records in a 50km radius of MacDonald Park, Kingston. Birders already using eBird are encouraged to share their sightings with 'Kingston FN'. Alternatively, please email, phone or post records directly to me - contact details below. Please note that some sightings may require review and remain unconfirmed unless stated otherwise.
Highlights: Although there have been definite signs of 'early' migration, things here in the Kingston area are still slow to get going. Waterfowl continue to dominate the 'news'. Highlights of the week include; GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE, SNOW GOOSE, TUNDRA SWAN, NORTHERN SHOVELER, CANVASBACK, DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT, GREAT BLUE HERON, RED-SHOULDERED HAWK, SANDHILL CRANE, CAROLINA WREN, and BOHEMIAN WAXWING. City of Kingston With very few records within the area, a GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE present in the Invista area from 22nd - 25th was a genuine highlight. Also present at that location was a relatively early NORTHERN SHOVELER, first seen on 23rd. A male CANVASBACK was located in the upper reaches of the Inner Harbour last weekend, though the thinning ice has made visiting that area quite hazardous over the last few days. Also in that area have been over 2000 REDHEAD and all 3 species of swans. Five DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS were seen flying past Portsmouth Olympic Harbour on 25th but not since and one of several sightings of RED-SHOULDERED HAWKS on the 20th/21st was made near Cataraqui Cemetery. The CAROLINA WREN was again seen at Cartwright's Point on 22nd, and just east of here 2 PURPLE FINCHES were seen on 25th, only the third sighting this year. Wolfe Island Things are slowing down on the island though 13 SNOWY OWLS were still to be seen on 23rd with a matching number of ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS the same day. NORTHERN HARRIERS are definitely making a move back into the area and have been seen quite widely this week, though numbers of HORNED LARKS have plummeted. Other sightings Never a common bird here, 50 SNOW GEESE were seen at Kaiser Crossroad, Prince Edward County, on 25th, where the number of other waterfowl is beginning to increase with a very respectable 64 WOOD DUCK seen there today (27th). Tomorrow's South Shore IBA Waterfowl Survey should hopefully produce some good numbers. North of Odessa, 2 SANDHILL CRANES were seen today (27th) but the first of the year was seen near Lansdowne on 21st. BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS are still hanging out in the area and have been seen on 3 dates this week near Elginburg with 100 there on 26th. In order to minimise disturbance to wildlife and property, Kingston Field Naturalists has adopted the KFN Sensitive Sightings Policy <http://kingstonfieldnaturalists.org/birding/KFN_sensitive_sightings_policy. pdf> . Also note that, as requested by the landowners, sightings of owls at the privately-owned Owl Woods must not be distributed on the Internet (this includes posting as 'Amherst Island' on eBird) by KFN or anyone who visits. To ensure continued access to this location, please respect their wishes and follow the guidelines posted on-site. To maintain records for conservation purposes, sightings from that location are welcomed through all the traditional channels. As always, thanks to all those who have submitted sightings over the last week. Mark. Mark D. Read 47 Ellerbeck Street, Unit 1, Kingston, Ontario K7L 4H5 Canada Mobile: +1 (613) 217-1246 Email: [email protected] Blog: "Confessions of a Global Birder" http://markdread.blogspot.com <http://markdread.blogspot.com/> Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/markdread/ eBird Guidelines for Reporting Sensitive Species <http://help.ebird.org/customer/portal/articles/1006789-guidelines-for-repor ting-sensitive-species> _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to [email protected] For information about ONTBIRDS including how to unsubscribe visit http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdssetup Posting guidelines can be found at http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdsguide
