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 send records directly to me - contact details below. Please note that some sightings may require review and remain unconfirmed unless stated otherwise.
Highlights: Sorry to have missed a week, still having computer issues. It was a bit slower in the area this week but we still have our long-staying Spotted Towhee. Across the border, approximately 30km south of Watertown, a Lark Sparrow has been seen almost daily. The weather was mainly cold to very cold though Lake Ontario remains mainly open. Here are the highlights of the last week: TRUMPETER SWAN – the high count this week was of 39 birds at Lower Brewers, on the Rideau Canal, on 26th. WHITE-WINGED SCOTER – as expected there were a few records this week, mainly from Prince Edward Point, with others (up to 4) being noted off Amherst Island. ICELAND GULL – a single bird was seen near Bath on 31st. LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL – rare to this area, an immature was seen near Bath on 31st. COMMON LOON – very unusual at this time of year, a single bird was seen off the Kingston waterfront on 31st. RED-SHOULDERED HAWK – a lone bird was seen near Gananoque on 31st. ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK – very scarce this winter with just 1 bird seen on Wolfe Island this week. Three birds were seen on Amherst on 30th. SNOWY OWL – only one bird was noted on Wolfe Island this week, though up to 5 have been seen on Amherst. PEREGRINE FALCON – the downtown Kingston bird was seen on 27th. NORTHERN SHRIKE – this is another scarce species in the area this winter though as many as 5 birds were seen this week, two of which were at Lemoine Point CA, Kingston, on 29th. RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET – the intermittent over-wintering bird on Amherst Island was seen again on 30th. NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD - the 2 birds first found at Portsmouth Olympic Harbour, Kingston, on 11th December continued all week along the fence line with Kingston Penitentiary. HERMIT THRUSH – three separate birds were noted this week; continuing birds were seen at Lemoine Point CA, Kingston, on 28th and 30th, and at Bur Brook Road, north of Kingston, on 27th. Another bird was seen near Adolphustown on 31st. SNOW BUNTING – the largest flock seen this week was the 300 encountered on Wolfe Island on 27th. SAVANNAH SPARROW – a lone bird was photographed on 30th near Napanee. SPOTTED TOWHEE - this long-staying, brightly-coloured, male first seen in November of last year continued to be seen at Prince Edward Point all week. RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD – singles were seen on Wolfe Island on 27th and on Long Point Road, Prince Edward on 30th and 31st. RUSTY BLACKBIRD – a single bird was seen on Wolfe Island on 27th. COMMON GRACKLE - as many as 17 birds were seen at or in the vicinity of Prince Edward Point this week. In order to minimise disturbance to wildlife and property in the recording area, Kingston Field Naturalists has adopted the KFN Sensitive Sightings Policy https://kingstonfieldnaturalists.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/KFN_sensitive_sightings_policy.pdf. Please note that you must be a card-carrying member of Kingston Field Naturalists (KFN), or be accompanied by a member, to access both the Martin Edwards Reserve and Amherstview Sewage Lagoons. As always, a big thank you goes to all those who have submitted sightings directly or via eBird. Mark. _______________________________________________ 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
