Other than common feeder birds, waterfowl are the most noteworthy sightings
this week. There are more than half a dozen species at the Dupont lagoon and
despite the cold weather there is still considerable open water outside the
lagoon to the southeast. There was nothing out of the ordinary today but the
mix does change from day to day. Most of the south shore of Amherst was frozen
on Tuesday but in the few open leads there were hundreds of Common Goldeneye,
several Tundra Swans, and a few Gadwall, Bufflehead, and Long-tailed Ducks.
North of the city, Trumpeter Swans were reported from Bedford Mills, Lower
Brewer's Mills and Chaffey's Lock.
Barred Owls are all over the place; Battersea, Elginburg, the Orser Road, and 3
at Lemoine Point. A new development in the owl picture locally is two reports
of Great Gray Owls this week; one near the Sydenham Ski Hill and the other on
Hwy. 41 near Erinsville. Neither bird could be located on follow-up visits.
Bald Eagles are still abundant in the Rideau Lakes north of the city and
accipiters continue their wintertime feeder patrol. Both Sharp-shinned and
Cooper's Hawks are in the Reddendale area and another Sharp-shinned and a N.
Goshawk put in appearances at Bedford Mills. The Peregrine Falcon continues to
be seen on the Queen's campus.
The only out-of-the-ordinary feeder birds are singleton Pine Siskins at Bedford
Mills and Elginburg and a White-throated Sparrow near Battersea.
Cheers,
Peter Good
Kingston Field Naturalists
613 378-6605
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