Waterfowl are having a tough time in this deep freeze. Common Goldeneye have increased in numbers away from Lake Ontario (it is frozen as far as you can see). The group at Chaffey's Lock has increased and there were several in the Napanee River near Yarker. The Trumpeter Swans at Chaffey's are dispersing; there were none there on Monday but five had returned by yesterday. There were 4 at Otter Lake on the Canoe Lake Road on Monday and another 6 at Davis Lock on Wednesday. The male Wood Duck and the Green-winged Teal are still at Chaffey's. Highlights at the Dupont lagoon included a half dozen Ring-necked Ducks and an equal number of Hooded Mergansers along with 16 Am. Coots.
The situation on Amherst Island seems to be in a state of flux with the arrival of a Barred Owl that is playing havoc with the Saw-whet, Boreal and Long-eared Owls. Away from the Owl Woods, there are still lots of hawks and Snowy Owls; high counts this week: 11 Snowies, 16 Red-tailed, and 47 Rough-legged. Amherst continues to support a few Am. Kestrels, Short-eared Owls and N. Shrikes. A Boreal Owl was found off the beaten track at the Queen's Biological Station last Saturday. Also in the vicinity were 3 Bald Eagles, 13 Common Ravens and 200 Bohemian Waxwings. Ravens were also noted at Jones Falls (1), Amherst Island (1), and the Opinicon Road (5). The finch picture remains much the same with several feeders reporting huge numbers of Pine Siskins, increasing numbers of Common Redpolls with at least two feeders having a pair of Hoary Redpolls, and a few Purple Finches thrown into the mix. The only Pine Grosbeaks this week were 2 on the Opinicon Road on Monday. Uncommon but not unexpected winter birds included 3 Am. Robins at QUBS last weekend, two more near Elgin yesterday, a Belted Kingfisher along the Napanee River, and 2 Iceland Gulls in the Amherst ferry channel. A male Varied Thrush has shown up at a feeder south of Napanee; unfortunately the homeowner is not keen on an influx of birders to his backyard. And on a final note, 14 Horned Larks patrolled the shoulders of the Palace Road northeast of Napanee today. These are the first reported north of the 401. Prespring has arrived. Cheers, Peter Good Kingston Field Naturalists 613 378-6605 _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list [email protected] For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
