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:
It was another good week in the area with a mix of interesting sightings,
including the continuing Spotted Towhee at Prince Edward Point. With the
weather swinging from cold with snow, to mild with freezing/regular rain, it
was tricky to know what to wear. Inland waterbodies remain mainly frozen,
though Lake Ontario has opened up again. Here are the highlights of the last
week:
GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE - an adult bird, presumed to be continuing but
not seen since the end of November, was seen in Button Bay, Wolfe Island, on
26th.
CACKLING GOOSE - 2 birds were seen at Reed's Bay, Wolfe Island, on 26th.
TRUMPETER SWAN - this week, it was the turn of Bedford Mills to host the
high count, with 25 seen there on 24th and 62 on 26th.
TUNDRA SWAN - birds are still being reported in low numbers, with Wolfe
Island the best place to see them. Thirty two were seen there on 23rd.
WOOD DUCK - a female was seen at Springside park, Napanee, on 21st.
NORTHERN SHOVELER - the male first seen last week at Hillview Pond, was seen
at Invista, Kingston on 21st.
NORTHERN PINTAIL - a lone male was seen at Invista, Kingston, on 21st..
GREEN-WINGED TEAL - single males were seen at Invista, Kingston, on 21st and
Sydenham on 25th.
HORNED GREBE - a single bird was seen at Prince Edward Point on 26th.
ICELAND GULL - an immature bird was seen at Button bay, Wolfe Island, on
26th.
GLAUCOUS GULL - an immature bird was seen at Sandhurst Shores on 21st.
RED-SHOULDERED HAWK - an adult was seen on a couple of occasions this week
near Gananoque.
ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK - it is not a good year for this species with just 4 birds
reported this week.
SNOWY OWL - 13 birds were counted on the west end of Wolfe Island on 26th,
with 6 noted on Amherst Island on 21st.
GYRFALCON - a grey adult was again photographed at Cataraqui Bay, Kingston,
on 22nd.
NORTHERN SHRIKE - 5 different birds were seen this week, but it is not
shaping up to be a good year for this species.
RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET - a single bird was seen on Amherst Island on 21st and
26th.
NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD - the 2 birds found at Portsmouth Olympic Harbour,
Kingston, on 11th continued all week along the fence line with Kingston
Penitentiary.
HERMIT THRUSH - a single bird was seen on Amherst Island on 21st.
SNOW BUNTING - it was a poor week with just 3 observations, the high being
28 on Wolfe Island on 26th.
CHIPPING SPARROW - 2 birds have been visiting a feeder at Sandhurst Shores
this week.
SWAMP SPARROW - a lone bird was seen at Marshlands CA, Kingston, on 19th.
SPOTTED TOWHEE - this long-staying, brightly-coloured, male continued to be
seen at Prince Edward Point this week, and has now been seen by many
appreciative observers. Let's hope it continues into the new year.
COMMON GRACKLE - as many as 12 birds were seen at 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_sensiti
ve_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.
Mark D. Read
337 Button Bay Road,
Wolfe Island,
Kingston, Ontario
K0H 2Y0
Canada
Mobile: +1 (613) 217-1246
Email: mailto:markdread@gmail.com markdread@gmail.com
eBird Guidelines for Reporting Sensitive Species
<http://help.ebird.org/customer/portal/articles/1006789-guidelines-for-repor
ting-sensitive-species>