My wife and I birded Amherst Island on Monday December 15. We stayed on the island overnight, and there were strong winds that continued into the morning. Most prominent among raptors were Nothern Harrier (12) with only 2 Red-tails and 2 Roughed-legs (probably because of the wind).
3 Snowy Owls (very white at Stella Forty Foot Road & Cooncession 2 about 30 meters from the road; one very dark on the Kingston Naturalists property seen from the most easterly north-south road; one not as light as the first east of the narrow road down to the owl woods). Flock of 16 Snow Buntings on South Shore Road between Stella Forty Foot Road and the road up to owl woods (seen both morning and afternoon). 1 Northern Shrike on South Shore west of Stella Forty Foot Road. It was overcast when we got to the jack pine plantation and so there was a lot of activity among the Long-eared Owls, which made counting difficult. There must have been well over 20 with one group of 6, another of 13 and others scattered in 1s and 2s around. There were 6 other birders and they reported 3 Saw-whet Owls (we had 1). Two were in a cedar close to the feeders and one in the small trees at the south-west corner of the plantation. Nobody reported Boreal Owls. Others reported 2 Short-eared Owls flying on the entry road to owl woods. In the morning there was little activity at the feeders (probably because of the wind), but there was much more activity in the afternoon (Chickadees, American Tree Sparrows and WB Nuthatch). Directions: exit 593 from 401 and go south to Millhaven, turn right and ferry is a short distance from there. Stella Forty Foot Raod is the road straight off the ferry, and South Shore Road is at the end of it. To get to owl woods turn left at stop sign shortly after leaving the ferry; after 3 km there is a narrow road to the south. The entrance to the woods is at the point this road turns east and then south again. Sandy Darling Flamborough _______________________________________________ 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
