On Amherst Island today, Justin Ripley and I found 1 BOREAL OWL, 1 LONG-EARED OWL and 1 BROWN THRASHER in the Owl Woods. By the KFN property there were 8 SHORT-EARED OWLS. By the Fishing Village an adult BALD EAGLE was giving chase to the numerous COMMON GOLDENEYES and GREATER SCAUP. A RING-NECKED DUCK was also spotted there. Also spotted on the island were 2 MUTE SWANS and 2 NORTHERN HARRIERS. At the Amherstview Sewage Lagoons, there was quite a bit of open water in the northwest pond with many MALLARDS, GADWALLS and a lone female COMMON GOLDENEYE. At Cartwright Point there was 1 RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER, 1 CAROLINA WREN and 1 BROWN CREEPER. The roads on Amherst Island are becoming quite muddy with plenty of potholes. Also, the trails in the Owl Woods are very icy and we both slipped a couple of times.
Good Birding Bruce Ripley Directions To Amherst Island - Ontario Road Atlas, MapArt Publishing [Pg. 36, E54 & E55] Located 18 km. west of Kingston. Exit off Hwy. 401 at exit 593 (County Road 4, Camden East) and drive south to the very end (Millhaven). Turn right on Hwy. 33 and drive 100 metres until you see the sign for the Amherst Island ferry. The ferry (20 minute trip) leaves the mainland on the half hour and leaves the island on the hour. Cost is $5.00 Canadian round trip. There are no gas stations on the island. The East End K.F.N. property is at the easternmost part of the island. To reach the Owl Woods, turn left (east) at the four-way stop sign by the general store and drive 3.4 kilometres along Front Road to the (seasonal) Marshall Forty-Foot Road. Marshall Forty-Foot Road is across the road from house #2320. Drive along Marshall Road to the mid-way point, where there is an "S" in the road (1.2 kilometres , look for the K.F.N. kiosk). Park in the gravel lane or off the road edge. The road is closed due to snow drifting so you have to make the 1km or so walk in. The chickadees can be hand fed. The Fishing Village (Emeric Point) is at the south-west tip of the island. Directions to Amherstview Sewage Lagoon: From Hwy. 401 exit (593) travel south ( 8.5 km) on County Road 4 to Taylor-Kidd Blvd. Turn left (east) and follow Taylor-Kidd Blvd. (6.5 km) to County Road 6. Continue east on Taylor-Kidd (.8 km), and watch for a lane on your right after crossing railway overpass. This is the entrance to the lagoon. If you're coming from Amherst Island, turn right onto highway 33 and then left on county Road 4. Continue north (1.5 km) and turn right (east) onto Taylor-Kidd Blvd. Cartwright Point is off highway 2, east of Kingston. Taking highway 15 south to the end, turn left (east) on highway 2 and drive to the second set of traffic lights(1.5km.). Turn right onto Princess Mary and take your first right(Caen St.) then your first left(Canal du Nord Drive). Drive along this road .3 kilometres and look for a white sign on the right for Cartwright Point(Cassino Court). Cassino Court turns into The Point Road.
