On Saturday December 15th, a small detachment of Queen's University bio grads birded the islands S. of Kingston, primarily searching for the Snowy Owls reported a week previous by Bruce Di Labio.
We covered Wolfe Is. in the morning, birding much of the territory between 8th Line and the W. end of the island. Unfortunately, no Snowy Owls or Northern Shrikes were found by our group. Rough-legged Hawks were abundant, and 2 Red-tailed Hawks and 2 Northern Harriers added to the raptor tally. A flock of several hundred Snow Buntings was just W. of town while small groups of Horned Larks were scattered throughout the island and about 7 Lapland Longspurs showed very well along Hwy. 96. 4 American Robins were in town just W. of the current ferry dock. Steam coming off the water on the coldest day of winter thus far prevented observation of waterfowl on the lake. A trip to Amherst Is. in the afternoon confirmed Bruce's report of low raptor numbers on the island. The core of Owl Woods was very quiet, with only the regular feeder birds present. Just north of the entrance around the S-bend in the road, a Short-eared Owl was present, as was a Barred Owl which showed well in the deciduous forest just N. of the curve along the E. side of the road. This provides yet more evidence to the extant body suggesting these birds are moving in large numbers at present. 15 Gadwall were present along the S. shore of the island but once again visibility was hindered by the steaming lake, with birds more than 40 feet offshore completely invisible; consequently we skipped the KFN property at the E. end of the island. A Belted Kingfisher and a drake Hooded Merganser were both present at the Amherst ferry dock on the mainland side. Directions shamelessly stolen from Bruce Di Labio: 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. The Owl Woods are located at the S-bend along Marshall Forty Foot Road, which is the N-S line to the E of Stella Rd. Wolfe Island: The ferry can be reach along the water front in downtown Kingston. This ferry is free of charge. 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/ ." Good birding, Chris Kimber Dept. of Biology Queen's University Kingston, ON _______________________________________________ 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
