There seem to be changes afoot in the Kingston area bird population. Many winter birds are still about but some new species and some old ones in new locations indicate that we are in a state of flux.
With respect to waterfowl, new arrivals include 2 Lesser Scaup at the Dupont lagoon, and a Ring-necked Duck on Wolfe Island today. Other sightings were 2 Gadwall on Amherst Island Feb 19, 3 Redheads at the Dupont lagoon, and from a New York State birder 11 Redheads, 28 Tundra Swans, and 8 Mute Swans near Point Peninsula Feb 20. There seems to be lots of raptor activity about, even if the numbers aren't spectacular. Two harriers were reported from Cape Vincent on Feb 20 and 3 more were seen on Wolfe today. Cape Vincent also had 2 kestrels and 12 Rough-legged Hawks (Amherst and Wolfe had 2 each on Feb 19 and 23 respectively). A Merlin was seen on Wolfe Feb 18. Bald Eagle reports are declining with one seen near Westport and 2 at Ivy Lea on Feb 20. Accipiters put on a show this week however; a Sharp-shinned visited the feeder with all the redpolls on Isle of Man Rd.,a Cooper's Hawk was seen devouring a pigeon in Kingston and A Northern Goshawk buzzed a backyard near Camden East causing more than a little dismay amongst the resident seed eaters. Snowy Owls are still present in good numbers; 4 on Wolfe Feb 18, 1 at Cape Vincent Feb 20, and about 10 on Amherst today.A late report had 4 Short-eared Owls on Wolfe Feb 15 between Baseline and Reed's Bay Roads. The first Saw-whet Owl of the season was found in the Jack Pine part of the Owl Woods on Amherst Feb 19 but it could not be relocated today. A few white-winged gulls are around; a Glaucous on Amherst Feb 19, an adult Iceland in the city Feb 19 and another (same bird?) from the ferry to Amherst today. Other sightings of note include 31 Bohemian Waxwings and a Northern Shrike near Enterprise, now 2 flickers at the previously mentioned Isle of Man feeder, a single robin north of Elginburg on Feb 20 to be joined by 3 more on Feb 23. As the woodpeckers start their drumming and the chickadees their three-note whistle, two more reports of bluebirds (2 at Abbey Dawn, 1 in Camden East) indicate that spring is very near. Cheers, Peter Good 613 378-6605
