Despite the noticeably longer days and the warmth in the sun, the Kingston area is still waiting for that influx of Killdeer and blackbirds that indicates that spring has finally arrived. Other than reports of many Horned Larks and one new sighting of robins all the submissions this week were definitely what one would call winter birds.
Two male Barrow's Goldeneye were seen in the St. Lawrence east of Gananoque Feb 24 and a Lesser Black-backed Gull near the Wolfe I. ferry dock in Kingston Feb 28. Five Short-eared Owls were seen on Wolfe I. Feb 27 and the fifth N. Goshawk of the season was seen near Elginburg on Feb 23. North of Camden East there was a small flock of 6 Bohemian Waxwings on Mar 2. An observer on Howe I. reported a shrike and 3 Red-bellied Woodpeckers Feb 28 and 2 Tufted Titmice were seen in Cape Vincent that same day. The best bird of the week was the white phase Gyrfalcon seen on HWY 15 south of the 401 on Feb 24. We had one of these on the Kingston Christmas count in mid December but there have been no other reports all winter. It makes one wonder were it has spent the interim if in fact it is the same bird. Here's hoping that next week's report will be a good reason to dust off the binoculars and get out and welcome spring. Cheers, Peter Good Kingston Field Naturalists 613 378-6605
