Hello everyone, Today, Saturday, December 8, 2007, we birded Amherst and Wolfe Islands.
Very few raptors were observed on Amherst Island: one Red-tailed Hawk, one Rough-legged Hawk and one American Kestrel. The Owl Woods are closed due to hunting, so we birded just the east point of the KFN property. Highlights included 750+ Gadwall, 16 American Wigeon, 11 Northern Pintails (all males), and one Eastern Meadowlark.
The afternoon was spent birding Wolfe Island. Good numbers of raptors were observed west of 8th Line and included 42 Rough-legged Hawks, 5 Red-tailed Hawks, one Northern Harrier, 3 American Kestrel, 2 Snowy Owls and 2 Northern Shrikes. We were surprised to find a Rough-legged Hawk pecking at a deer carcass in a field while a coyote watched. Other birds of note: 392 American Coots, 133 Tundra Swans, 24 Redheads, 320 Snow Bunting and one Lapland Longspur.
Good birding, Bruce Directions: Amherst Island: Located 18 km. west of Kingston. Exit off Hwy. 401 at exit 593 (County Rd. 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 now $8.00 Canadian round trip. There are no gas stations on the island. There are restrooms on the ferry, and at the island ferry dock. The East End K.F.N. property is at the easternmost part of the island on the east side of the Lower Forty Foot Road. Wolfe Island: The ferry can be reach along the water front in downtown Kingston. Please read below. Because of liability issues, visitors to the Kingston Field Naturalists' property at the east end of Amherst Island MUST be accompanied by a KFN member. For KFN contact information or how to become a member, please visit http://kingstonfieldnaturalists.org/ ." Please Note: The Owl Wood's is closed for public safety due to deer hunting from Nov 24 - Dec 9. Bruce Di Labio 400 Donald B. Munro Drive P.O.Box 538 Carp,Ontario,K0A 1L0 (613)839-4395 Home (613)715-2571 Cell Di Labio Birding Website Courses and Field Trips http://www3.sympatico.ca/bruce.dilabio/ _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list [email protected] For instructions to join or leave ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdssetup.php ONTBIRDS Guidelines may be viewed at http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdsguide.php
