Kingston Field Naturalists (KFN) maintains records in a 50km radius of MacDonald Park, Kingston. Birders using eBird are encouraged to share their sightings with 'Kingston FN'. Alternatively, please email or send records directly to me - contact details below. Please note that some sightings may require review and remain unconfirmed unless stated otherwise.
Special Note re Owl Woods Owl Woods is privately owned, but a long-standing agreement allows visitors to enter the property. However, the owners insist that all owl sightings at this location are not reported on any social media platform (including eBird) until the season is over, or we risk losing access. Although owls are occasionally seen at other nearby locations, disguising your owl wood sightings as 'Amherst Island' or even 'Lennox and Addington' goes against the spirit of the message. Highlights: Temperatures dropped markedly this week and inland waterbodies are freezing up nicely. However, Lake Ontario remains wide open and an increase in temperatures forecast for this weekend may open things up again. There was a reduced diversity of species this week but with a suite of Christmas Bird Counts on the way, unexpected sightings will no doubt be forthcoming. Here are the highlights of the past week: SNOW GOOSE - a single bird was seen on Lake Ontario off Kaiser Cross Road, Prince Edward, on 15th. GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE - An adult bird was photographed at Waupoos, Prince Edward on 14th. TRUMPETER SWAN - Chaffey's Lock is currently the best place to see this species with 98 seen there on 16th. TUNDRA SWAN - whether it was a lack of birders getting out, or a genuine drop in numbers, the high count this week was just 20 at Belle Park, Kingston, on 15th. NORTHERN SHOVELER - the male bird at Hillview Pond, Kingston, remained to 14th. GREEN-WINGED TEAL - a single male continued at Hillview Pond, Kingston to 14th, with 4 reported from Belle Park, Kingston, on 15th. ICELAND GULL - an immature bird was seen at Prince Edward Point on 14th, with an immature and an adult at Bath, the same day. ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK - birds continue to be concentrated on Amherst Island with 29 seen there on 12th. NORTHERN SHRIKE - singles were seen near Charleston Lake on 12th, at Godfrey on 14th, and on Amherst Island on 16th. MARSH WREN - a late bird was still present at Marshlands CA, Kingston, on 14th. CAROLINA WREN - there was just a single sighting this week of a continuing bird at Balsam Grove, Kingston, on 12th. EVENING GROSBEAK - up to 8 birds have been seen on several dates this week near Verona, with 3 at Bedford Mills on 13th. PINE GROSBEAK - 1 near Lansdowne on 18th.bird was seen HOARY REDPOLL - there were 5 reports this week: 1 north of Sydenham on 12th; 1 on Chaffey's Lock Road on 14th; 1 at Elgin on 16th; 2 at Lyndhurst on 16th; and 3 at Athens on 16th. RED CROSSBILL - a single bird was at Depot Lakes CA on 14th, with 15 seen near Lansdowne on 18th. WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL - no reports. PINE SISKIN - there were very few reports this week, with the most consistent location being a private feeder near Brewers Mills where up to 4 birds have been seen this week. SNOW BUNTING - again, there were very few reports this week but a flock of 100 was seen near Button Bay, Wolfe Island on 17th. SWAMP SPARROW - a good number of birds are hanging on at Marshlands CA, Kingston, with 13 noted there on 14th. In order to minimise disturbance to wildlife and property in the recording area, Kingston Field Naturalists has adopted the <https://kingstonfieldnaturalists.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/KFN_sensiti ve_sightings_policy.pdf> KFN Sensitive Sightings Policy. Please note that you must be a card-carrying member of Kingston Field Naturalists (KFN), or be accompanied by a member, to access both the Martin Edwards Reserve and Amherstview Sewage Lagoons. As always, a big thank you goes to all those who have submitted sightings directly or via eBird. Mark. Mark D. Read 337 Button Bay Road, Wolfe Island, Kingston, Ontario K0H 2Y0 Canada Mobile: +1 (613) 217-1246 Email: <mailto:[email protected]> [email protected] <http://help.ebird.org/customer/portal/articles/1006789-guidelines-for-repor ting-sensitive-species> eBird Guidelines for Reporting Sensitive Species -- Ontbirds and Birdnews are moderated email Listservs provided by the Ontario Field Ornithologists (OFO) as a service to all birders in Ontario. Birdnews is reserved for announcements, location summaries, first of year reports, etc. To post a message on Birdnews, send an email to: [email protected]. If you have any questions or concerns, contact the Birdnews Moderators by email at [email protected]. Please review posting rules and guidelines at http://ofo.ca/site/content/listserv-guidelines To edit your membership settings visit the Birdnews setup page at: http://ontbirds.ca/mailman/listinfo/birdnews_ontbirds.ca. During the COVID-19 pandemic, all Ontario birders should be taking extra precautions and following local, provincial, and federal regulations regarding physical distancing and non-essential travel. To find out more about OFO, please visit our website at ofo.ca or Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/OntarioFieldOrnithologists.
