Kingston Field Naturalists (KFN) maintain records in a 50km radius of MacDonald Park, Kingston. Birders using eBird are encouraged to share their sightings with ‘Kingston FN’. Alternatively, please email records directly to me – contact details below. Please note that some sightings may require review and remain unconfirmed unless stated otherwise. Species in bold type require completion of a rare bird report available on the KFN website or directly from me. If indicated, an OBRC report may be required instead ( http://www.ofo.ca/site/Obrcreport). Some iPhone users report that bold type may be replaced by asterisks.
*Overview*: This week featured Christmas Bird Counts in Frontenac County, Prince Edward County, Rideau Ferry, Kingston, and Gananoque. The good weather brought out large numbers of observers but the numbers of species and individual birds observed were down significantly from the norm. In particular we have not yet seen the large flocks of winter ducks that are typical for this time of year. Perhaps the big storm now engulfing us will encourage lingering birds to make their way south. *Highlights: * NORTHERN PINTAIL – two sightings on the 18th, with one bird on Wolfe Island and five at Elevator Bay. GREEN-WINGED TEAL – two birds were seen on 18 December at Staley Point NCC (restricted access), and the annual winter flock of six are at Belle Park. BLACK SCOTER – two were spotted on 18 December from Wolfe Island during the Kingston CBC. HORNED GREBE – a single bird was seen in the ship channel between Wolfe Island and New York State during the Kingston CBC (18 December). TURKEY VULTURE – one bird was spotted near Inverary on 21 December. This species is an irregular rare winter resident, with individual birds occasionally overwintering within the area. YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER – one was seen on 17, 20, and 21 December on Marble Rock Rd; and another on the 18th on Staples Lane, Greater Napanee. TUFTED TITMOUSE – one bird continued at a feeder on Chelsea Road in Kingston, seen daily but not at regular intervals. NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD – one individual continued behind the Coast Guard station, Portsmouth Harbour, seen up to 22 December. HERMIT THRUSH –single birds were observed on 17 December along Gravelly Bay Road, Prince Edward County (PEC), and on the 19th on Lakeshore Blvd, Kingston. FOX SPARROW – one was seen on 20 December at the junction of CR7 and Rock X-Road, PEC. *DARK-EYED JUNCO* – a great find of an Oregon Dark-eyed Junco, seen and photographed on 21 December 712–772 Stephentown Ln, Kingston (North of Code’s Corner). WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW – one bird was seen most days up to 23 December at a home east of Gananoque. SWAMP SPARROW – one bird was noted at Marshlands CA, in the cattails between the “S” bend and the railway tracks. Individuals or small groups often try to spend the winter at this spot as the stream tends not to freeze over. *BALTIMORE ORIOLE* – one was observed and photographed on 18 December at the Invista property. RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD – up to 12 were present at feeders on Button Bay Road, Wolfe Island, 17th and 18th. One was spotted on the 18th at Perth Road Village, and another from 17-18 December near Piccadilly. RUSTY BLACKBIRD – one individual was seen on 17 December along Gravelly Bay Road, PEC. COMMON GRACKLE – several individual birds were spotted: 17 December at Long Point Road and Gravelly Bay Road (PEC) and Verona; 18th on the Big Sandy Bay Access Road – Wolfe Island; 21st at 1448 Avondale Crescent, Kingston; 22nd at the Lansdowne Dump. A flock of 16 descended onto a feeder at Long Point Road and Gravelly Bay Road, PEC, on the 23rd. In order to minimise disturbance to wildlife and property in the recording area, Kingston Field Naturalists has adopted the KFN Sensitive Sightings Policy <https://kingstonfieldnaturalists.org/wildlife/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. Permits are being checked on a regular basis at Amherstview and those without are being evicted. KFN members wishing to enter the Invista property must enter through the west gate and show their membership card to security. As always, a big thank you goes to all those who have submitted sightings directly or via eBird. Anthony N. Anthony Kaduck Kingston, Ontario Email: kaduckintransit « at » googlemail.com -- "The simple step of a simple courageous man is not to partake in falsehood, not to support false actions" -- Alexandr Solzhenitsyn -- 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 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.
