Hi Ontbirders:
Not much hawk activity on Amherst Island, from what I could see anyway. But
there were a few. The owl woods seemed quiet too but did notice some fresh
whitewash so likely owls are around but a quick check didn't reveal any on
Sunday. However, many people did get closeup looks of a rather tame
Long-eared Owl perched in the open and not too high. The road to the owl
woods is frozen over so people are just hiking in. On the KFN property a
heavily barred Snowy Owl was very cooperative and gave close-up looks. As
the owl perched atop a tree, a Short-eared owl made a beeline for it and
then flew away after letting the Snowy know what it thought of her. Along
the southshore road I saw a female Kestrel with a vole perched on the ground
next to the road. Took me a second to realize I was looking eye to eye with
a falcon (the brownish background camouflaged the Kestrel's form a bit).
Slowed my car down and watched it fly across the road with its catch.
Unfortunately, didn't see the reported Hawk owl along the southshore road.
Happy birding.
W. Hum
www.pbase.com/golfpic
Directions (courtesy of Bruce Dilabio..cut and paste from an Ontbirds
email):
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 $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.
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/.
_______________________________________________
ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial
birding organization.
Send bird reports to [email protected]
For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
