Kingston Field Naturalists (KFN) maintains records in a 50km radius of MacDonald Park, Kingston. Birders using eBird are encouraged to share their sightings with 'Kingston FN'. Alternatively, please email or post records directly to me - contact details below. Please note that some sightings may require review and remain unconfirmed unless stated otherwise.
Highlights: Of course, the weather has warmed up again and last week's bird-producing cold snap is a distant memory. However, birders out yesterday getting their winter lists started pulled out some goodies. Highlights of the week include: SNOW GOOSE, CACKLING GOOSE, WOOD DUCK, NORTHERN SHOVELER, CANVASBACK, KING EIDER, HARLEQUIN DUCK, RUDDY DUCK, AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN, BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON, GOLDEN EAGLE, ICELAND GULL, SNOWY OWL, YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER, TUFTED TITMOUSE, NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD, FOX SPARROW, VESPER SPARROW, RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD, RUSTY BLACKBIRD, and COMMON GRACKLE. Kingston An ICELAND GULL seen flying past Portsmouth Olympic Harbour on 1st was a good find for one observer and a continuing BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON at Hillview Pond (Collins Bay) on 2nd was a good record for another. At the same location, as many as 10 NORTHERN SHOVELER were still present on 1st. A FOX SPARROW at Lemoine Point CA on 27th was getting late, though hopefully the 2 CANVASBACK that continue at Cataraqui Bay may hang around a bit longer. Wolfe Island IBA SNOW GEESE linger on the island with 12 seen today at Button Bay where a PEREGRINE FALCON was seen on 1st. The only SNOWY OWL of the week was seen on 4th Line, also on 1st. The NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD at Button Bay continued until 26th but has not been seen since. Two RUSTY BLACKBIRDS, as well as 2 SWAMP SPRROWS were seen at Big Sandy Bay on 27th. Amherst Island IBA A RED-NECKED GREBE was a nice find on the island on 1st and. that looks like that's all this week. Please note that you must be a member of Kingston Field Naturalists (KFN) or be accompanied by a member to access the Martin Edwards Reserve. Also note that the OWL WOODS ARE NOW CLOSED for 3 weeks and will reopen on Monday 12th December. Prince Edward Point A female HARLEQUIN was seen at the point on 27th, as was a late VESPER SPARROW. On 28th, just outside the NWA, a female BLACK SCOTER was seen, along with a NORTHERN SHRIKE and a YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER. Other Sightings Although the female KING EIDER at Millhaven has moved on a second bird, an immature male, was found at Amherstview Sewage Lagoons yesterday. It was still present at 4pm this evening. The CACKLING GEESE opposite the old CIL factory at Millhaven, were seen again on 26th and 28th. North of here, towards Napanee, 4 SNOW GEESE were seen on the farms ponds on CR8 on 30th Nov and 1st Dec. In Napanee itself, a WOOD DUCK was today seen on the river at Springside Park. Northeast of here, near Harrowsmith, a GOLDEN EAGLE was photographed on 27th. Near Verona, 4 RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS and a NORTHERN SHRIKE were seen today. In the Hay Bay area, RUDDY DUCKS are still present in good numbers with 75 seen there on 1st. Also seen there was a ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK and 4 AMERICAN COOT. Just north of Kingston, a YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER was seen on a couple of occasions this week on Sand Hill Road. Further east near Gananoque, a TUFTED TITMOUSE was seen on 27th and 29th but has yet to reveal itself for winter listers. At the same location, RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS have been regular; a COMMON GRACKLE was seen there on 27th. A highlight from just across the border in Jefferson County, NY was an AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN seen near Watertown on 28th. Other notable sightings in the States include a continuing TUFTED TITMOUSE just north of Cape Vincent, a RED-THROATED LOON at Brownville, Chaumont on 28th, and a GLAUCOUS GULL there on 27th. In order to minimise disturbance to wildlife and property, Kingston Field Naturalists has adopted the KFN Sensitive Sightings Policy. Also note that, as requested by the landowners, sightings of owls at the privately-owned Owl Woods must not be shared 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 337 Button Bay Road, Wolfe Island, Kingston, Ontario K0H 2Y0 Canada Mobile: +1 (613) 217-1246 Home: +1 (613) 385-1651 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 (OFO) - 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 Visit the OFO Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/OntarioFieldOrnithologists
