Birded with a few friends today on Amherst and Wolfe Island. Before catching the 6:30a.m. ferry to Amherst, I called in an EASTERN SCREECH OWL just north of Bath from a woodlot along McIntyre Road. On Amherst in the Owl Woods we found 2 BARRED OWLS, 1 LONG-EARED OWL and 1 NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL. On Wolfe Island we found 1 SNOWY OWL along Baseline Road near the 5th Line. Hawks from both islands combined were 10 NORTHERN HARRIERS, 8 RED-TAILED HAWKS, 75 ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS, 20 AMERICAN KESTRELS and 1 PEREGRINE FALCON. Other good sightings include 6 GREAT BLUE HERONS, 6 TURKEY VULTURES, 2 RING-NECKED PHEASANTS, 6 AMERICAN WOODCOCKS, 8 KILLDEER, 1 RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER, 100 HORNED LARKS and 8 SNOW BUNTINGS. There were hundreds of waterfowl of fourteen species in the open waters. Great day to be out.
Good Birding Bruce Ripley Amherstview Kingston Area Ferry Schedules http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/traveller/ferry/index.html#Amherst 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 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 $6.00 Canadian round trip. There are no gas stations on the island. There are restrooms on the ferry, and at the island ferry dock. To reach the Owl Woods, turn left (east) at the four-way stop sign by the general store and drive 3.4 km along Front Rd. to the (seasonal) Marshall Forty-Foot Rd. Marshall Forty-Foot Rd. is across the road from house #2320. Drive along Marshall Rd. to the mid-way point, where there is an "S" in the road (1.2 km, look for the K.F.N. kiosk which has owl observing ethics). Park in the gravel lane or off the road edge. The road is sometimes closed due to snow drifting so you might have to make the 1.2km walk in. To enter from the south end (easier in winter) of Marshall Road, drive south from the ferry 3.5 km. until you meet the South Shore Road. Turn left (east) and drive roughly 7 km. to house # 2090 (J. Scott on mailbox). Look for the seasonal road just east of the house. The chickadees in the Owl Woods can be hand fed. Wolfe Island [pge 36, E 56 & 57] Ferry leaves from the foot of Barrack St. _______________________________________________ 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
