Kingston Field Naturalists Region Sightings for Week Ending Dec.2, '02
This report to the OntBirds system is based on sightings from the Kingston
Region that have been brought to the compiler's attention over the past
week.
Map Page numbers and location Quadrants noted in square brackets [...] below
are for named sites. They refer to the MapArt Publishing "Ontario Road
Atlas, 2000 Edition".
Map Page numbers and Quadrants in Open Brace brackets {.....} below are for
locations requiring more detail. They refer to MapArt Deluxe Street Atlas of
Eastern & Northern Ontario, 1st Edition.
This is a copy of the Dec. 2, '02 KFN Phone Line Announcement, with added
detail for locations:
WOLFE I. [page 36, quads E56, 57 & 58]
On Nov. 25 there was an estimated 500 TUNDRA SWAN by the shore south of The
South Shore road halfway between the 12th and 13th Line Roads.
On Dec. 1, Eleanor Sachs & I toured the Island. Leaving the Kingston Dock,
near the Holiday Inn we saw a lone AM. COOT. We found 250 LONG-TAILED DUCK &
200 TUNDRA SWANS by the South Shore Road and 187 more by a shoal south of
Horne's Ferry (aka Alexandra Point). At Reeds Bay no SWANS but Eleanor
spotted an adult BALD EAGLE which perched in a tree in the sun about 20 m.
from our car. At Mill Point there were many Mallards and BLACK DUCK and 3
PINTAIL, a BUFFLEHEAD and a rather late BELTED KINGFISHER. 3 HOODED
MERGANSERS and several C. MERGANSERS and 25 GADWALL were in a patch of open
water between the north end of the 8th Line and the Dump at the east end of
Marysville. We saw only 1 RED-TAILED HAWK and 4 AM. KESTREL. At the south
end of the 5th Line Rd. we saw some DUCKS and CAN. GEESE feeding in one of
the Pyke Farm fields. The whole flock took off from the stubble under the
provocation of a large ACCIPITER (probable female COOPER'S) which flew over
them. We were amazed when 7,000 birds rose in the air at once! The DUCKS
were mainly MALLARDS and BLACKS.
We looked over the fields and trees from the 5th Line Rd. to The east end of
Hwy 96, hoping for SNOWY OWLS, N. SHRIKES or other raptors than the
above --- NO LUCK.
OTHER SIGHTINGS
From Erwin Batalla: "There was a peregrine falcon and a red-tailed hawk
flying over downtown Kingston (near Wolfe I. ferry terminal) {page 48, quad
N18} on Saturday at about 10:30 A.M." (sighting date: Nov. 23).
The Cartwright Point SCREECH OWL has been seen in the nesting box entry for
the past few days. The box is about 8 m. north of # 3 Woodpecker Lane. A
CAROLINA WREN was on our feeders at 2 p.m. today, Dec. 2. A RUFFED GROUSE
bit a resident who reached for a peanut that she had dropped for the bird
but she thought the nut should be broken up a bit for the bird's
convenience. Blood was drawn. Transfusion not required. {page 48, quad N20}
For 3 months we have been aware of a SHARP-SHINNED HAWK patrolling our
feeders. We have seen it 8 or 9 times; we witnessed 3 attacks on MOURNING
DOVES. In each case the SHARPY drove the DOVE into our front window. It
appears to be a learned strategy: the DOVES though stunned are not killed
until the SHARPY grabs it on the ground and flies off with it for lunch.
(for the last two kills we have had a HAWK silhouette stuck on the window).
It did not help the DOVES. Cartwright Point: {page 48, quad N20}
Bob Sachs Kingston Ont. Compiler
"Bob Sachs" rsachs@cogeco.ca