[Ontbirds] Kingston Area Birds: 9th - 15th Dec 2017

[Mark D. Read via ONTBIRDS]

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:

Winter weather finally arrived mid-week with a solid freeze and a good
covering of snow. Smaller inland lakes are frozen and bays are icing up
around Lake Ontario. Here are the highlights of the last week:

 

GREEN-WINGED TEAL - 7 late birds were seen on Amherst Island on 11th.

BLACK SCOTER - a female continued at Horne's Ferry, Wolfe Island, throughout
the week.

SANDHILL CRANE - a couple of good records this week with 11 near Crosby on
9th and 33 on Amherst Island on 11th.

SNOWY OWL - numbers on the Amherst and Wolfe islands still remain low.

YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER - a single bird (possibly continuing) was seen near
Battersea today (15th).

RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET - a single bird was seen in Kingston on 10th.

NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD - a single bird was seen on Amherst Island on 10th and
11th.

LAPLAND LONGSPUR - a bit of an arrival this week with, amongst other
records, 10 birds on 4th Line, Wolfe Island on 13th. 

ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER - a late individual was found at Wartman-Patterson
Park, Kingston, on 10th.

YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER - a number of records with 1 near Elginburg on 10th
and 14th, 2 singles near Camden East on 14th, and 3 just south of Westport,
also on 14th.

CHIPPING SPARROW - a lone bird took advantage of a private feeder near
Brewers Mills on from 10th - 12th.

SWAMP SPARROW - 1 was seen near Elginburg on 15th.

INDIGO BUNTING - a confused male in full breeding plumage remains at a
private feeder in Seeley's Bay.

RUSTY BLACKBIRD - a flock of 16 birds was seen near Napanee on 14th.

 

In order to minimise disturbance to wildlife and property in the recording
area, Kingston Field Naturalists has adopted the KFN Sensitive Sightings
Policy
 . 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.

 

As always, a big thank you goes to all those who have submitted sightings
directly or via eBird.

 

Mark.

 

Mark D. Read

337 Button Bay Road,

Wolfe Island,

Kingston, Ontario

K0H 2Y0

Canada

 

Mobile: +1 (613) 217-1246

Email:   markdr...@gmail.com

___
ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists (OFO) - the 
provincial birding organization.
Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca
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

[Ontbirds] 24th Huntsville Christmas Bird Count: 14 December 2017

[Ron Tozer via ONTBIRDS]

It was a magnificent sunny day with “winter wonderland” scenery! However, count 
results were negatively affected to an unknown extent by cold temperatures 
(minus 26 degrees C. at dawn to minus 15 degrees at dusk), lower than usual 
numbers of birds utilizing feeders, and fog rising all day off the remaining 
open water areas of the bigger lakes. Fortunately, the river was open and 
mostly fog-free. Preliminary results follow:

 

Total Observers: 24. Total Species: 38 (average is 39). Total Individuals: 
2,530 (average is 3,032).

New Species for the Count: Snowy Owl (1). Cumulative Species Total: 92

Unusual Species: Sharp-shinned Hawk (1), Red-tailed Hawk (1), Bohemian Waxwing 
(8), Cedar Waxwing (1 with the Bohemians).

Finches (mostly low numbers): Pine Grosbeak (8), Purple Finch (36), Red 
Crossbill (9), Pine Siskin (41), American Goldfinch (352). 

 

Thanks to all the participants.

Ron Tozer, Huntsville CBC Compiler, Dwight, ON

 

___
ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists (OFO) - the 
provincial birding organization.
Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca
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

[Ontbirds] Algonquin Park Birding Report: 14 December 2017

[Ron Tozer via ONTBIRDS]

All Highway 60 lakes are now ice-covered, with the last two freezing over on 
December 11 

(Lake of Two Rivers) and 13 (Smoke Lake). Average snow depth is about 15 cm. 
The suet feeders 

are now in place at the Visitor Centre and on Spruce Bog Boardwalk at the trail 
register box.

 

-Northern Shrike: one at the Visitor Centre, December 9.

-Bohemian Waxwing: about five at locked gate on Opeongo Road, December 7.

 

-Ruffed Grouse: sightings continued at the Visitor Centre driveway and feeders.

-Spruce Grouse: seen on Spruce Bog Boardwalk and Opeongo Road, December 7 and 
10, respectively.

-Black-backed Woodpecker: one was along Opeongo Road, December 10.

-Gray Jay: regular along Opeongo Road from the locked gate northward, and on 
Spruce Bog Boardwalk.

-Boreal Chickadee: no reports again this week. Try Spruce Bog Boardwalk and 
Opeongo Road.

 

Winter finches reported this week were: Purple Finch, Red Crossbill, 
White-winged Crossbill, Pine Siskin,

American Goldfinch and Evening Grosbeak (highest count: 32 at the Visitor 
Centre on December 12). Finch

diversity is good but numbers reported are still relatively low.

 

Good birding. 

Ron Tozer, Algonquin Park Naturalist (retired), Dwight, ON.

 

DIRECTIONS:

Algonquin Provincial Park is three hours north of Toronto, via Highways 400, 11 
and 60. Follow the signs 

which start in Toronto on Highway 400. From Ottawa, take Highway 17 to Renfrew, 
then follow Highway 60 to 

the park. Kilometre markers along Highway 60 in the Park go from the West Gate 
(km 0) to near the East Gate (km 56).

 

The Visitor Centre exhibits, bookstore and restaurant at km 43 are open on 
weekends from 9 am to 5 pm in winter. 

The Visitor Centre is also open on weekdays from 9 am to 4 pm with limited 
services, including self-serve hot and 

cold beverages plus snacks available in the restaurant.

 

Get your park permit and Information Guide (with a map of birding locations 
mentioned here) at the East Gate or the 

West Gate. Locations are also described at: www.algonquinpark.on.ca

 

___
ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists (OFO) - the 
provincial birding organization.
Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca
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

[Ontbirds] 2018 OFO Fieldtrips

[dave milsom via ONTBIRDS]

OFO members should by now have received their fieldtrip package for 2018 in the 
mail.


There were 2 errors/ omissions on my part which require correction :

John Carley's Leslie Street Spit/Tommy Thompson Park outing is on May 26( not 
May 21).

There are also changes/additions  with regard to Martin and Kathy Parker's 
trips which will be announced next week.


Please remember that this is the initial list and changes may occur as 2018 
progresses.

So ensure you always check the website before attending an outing : 
www.ofo.ca

[http://www.ofo.ca/images/ofobtitle.jpg]

OFO - Site
www.ofo.ca
Ontario Field Ornithologists (OFO) is dedicated to the study of bird life in 
Ontario.


Thanks


Dave Milsom

OFO Fieldtrip Coordinator

___
ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists (OFO) - the 
provincial birding organization.
Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca
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