Report to OntBirds, from the week's sightings for the Kingston Region, as
reported the compiler.
Page numbers and location Quadrants noted in square brackets [...], are for
named sites. They refer to the MapArt Publishing "Ontario Road Atlas, 2003
Edition".
Page numbers and Quadrants in Open Brace brackets {.....} 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 Aug. 15, '03 KFN Phone Line script, with added detail
for locations:
AMHERST I. [page 36, quad E54 & E55]
Bruce Di Labio reported: "On August 9th, I birded the KFN property at the
east end of Amherst Island. Water levels were high with little shorebird
habitat. Along the shoreline a total of 12 species of shorebirds were
observed including 3 adult Black-bellied Plover, 1 adult Ruddy Turnstone, 3
adult Sanderling, and 2 Short-billed Dowitcher (1 adult, 1 juv.). A total of
12 species of waterfowl were found including 2 Redhead, 2 Greater Scaup and
1 Red-breasted Merganser. On the walk out to the point, at least a dozen
meadow voles were seen as they scurried through the grass."
The KFN Field Trip to Amherst I. on Aug. 10 concentrated on the KFN
Property. Highlights were: 2 AM. BITTERN, 3 BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON, 2
OSPREY several SEMIPALMATED PLOVER and SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPERS, 1 GR. and 2
LESSER YELLOWLEGS, 1 SANDERLING, several LEAST SANDPIPER, PECTORAL
SANDPIPER, 1 SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER, many CASPIAN, COMMON and BLACK TERNS
and several N. HARRIER
Bruce Ripley Reported on Aug. 12: "On the KFN property at the east end, 14
species of shorebirds were observed including 1 juv. BAIRD'S SANDPIPER (in
grassy area just before the first pond), 6 RUDDY TURNSTONES, 2 BLACK-BELLIED
PLOVER, 3 SEMIPALMATED PLOVER, both YELLOWLEGS, 1 PECTORAL SANDPIPER, 1
SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER and 6 SANDERLING."
DIRECTIONS: The ferry to Amherst I. leaves from a dock at the western side
of Millhaven. It is reached from the 401 by taking exit 593 south to
Millhaven. Jog right about 100 m. On Hwy 33 to the dock. The ferry costs
$5.00 Cdn return and starts at 6:20 a.m. Then 7:30 and thereafter on the
half hour. The KFN property is on the east side of the Lower Road.
OPINICON RD. [page 36, quads A56 & A57]
Bruce Ripley reported for Aug. 11: "A good day of butterfly hunting turned
into a good day for birds as well. At one location I noticed a small bird in
a bush. When I started pishing, a COMMON YELLOWTHROAT, OVENBIRD, 2 AMERICAN
REDSTARTS, PINE WARBLER
and a YELLOW-THROATED VIREO came in. At another location I noticed another
bird in a bush and again I started pishing. Almost unbelievably, 20 feet
away at eye level in a small stunted maple tree, 2 GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLERS,
CERULEAN WARBLER, 2 YELLOW-THROATED VIREO and a RED-EYED VIREO came in. At
one point I had the male GOLDEN-WINGED and the male CERULEAN in the same
field of view. As I walked away from this amazing spectacle, a YELLOW-BILLED
CUCKOO called from a distance. Other good birds include RED-SHOULDERED HAWK,
WOOD DUCK, INDIGO BUNTING, EASTERN BLUEBIRD, COMMON RAVEN and PILEATED
WOODPECKER. A FISHER was also spotted. Found my first LEONARD'S SKIPPER for
the year. Twenty six butterfly species for the day; sixty two for the year."
Directions: Opinicon Road is north of Kingston. From highway 401 take county
road 10 (exit 617) north towards Westport for about 20 kilometres. Roughly 1
or 2 kilometres past Perth Road Village on the right is Opinicon Road. These
birds were sighted on the Queen's University property. However, anywhere
along Opinicon Road is good. The old railway line or the Rideau Trail across
from Skycroft Campgrounds are superb birding and butterfly areas.
OTHER SIGHTINGS
At Cartwright Point, we still hear CAROLINA WRENS calling daily from the CFB
Kingston and from several spots in the Point area. Our SCREECH OWLS & PINE
WARBLERS have been silent for the past several days. A COOPER'S HAWK charged
across Deadman Bay, through a flock of BARN SWALLOWS without catching any on
Aug. 14. [P36, D56], {page 48 & 49, quads N20 & M21}
Compiled by, Bob Sachs, Kingston, Ont.
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
"Bob Sachs" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
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