December 29, 2010 Birding Amherst Island

The birding on Amherst Island this afternoon was excellent. I spent a couple of hours wandering around in the Owl Woods and found 2 Boreal Owl, 2 Northern Saw-whet Owl, and 1 Long-eared Owl. There was lots of sign, white wash and pellets in the woods. Also had 1 Winter Wren and 1 White-throated Sparrow at the feeder. At dusk, I drove around the island and counted 22 Short-eared Owls, mainly at the east end of the island and south of the village of Stella. Also heard 2 Great Horned Owls hooting, its that time of year and saw 1 sitting up in a tree. Snowy Owls are slowly making their way south, had 1 sitting on a Osprey platform on the KFN property at dusk. There were a small number of Red-tailed (6) and Rough-legged Hawks (11) as well as American Kestrel (1) and Northern Harrier (7).

Directions: 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/ ."

The Northern Saw-whet Owl is a regular visitor to Amherst Island during the winter months.

A Snowy Owl perched on a Oprey platform on the KFN property.

A small number of Short-eared Owls are wintering on the island.

A Boreal Owl well camouflaged in a White Cedar.

Northern Saw-whet Owl

The Short-eared Owls were very vocal giving their raspy high barking call.

December 27, 2010 Lapland Longspurs near Ste. Rose

On our return home from the Massena-Cornwall CBC we made a brief stop in the Casselman-Ste. Rose area towards dusk. No Snowy Owls or hawks but we did find a large flock of Lapland Longspurs, 300+, feeding in a field. It's the largest flock I've ever observed during the winter months. Also present in the area were 68 Horned Lark and 150+ Snow Bunting. Good Birding, Bruce and Ben

Directions: Take Hwy 417 east of Casselman and exit at #58 and go north. Take the first right turn ,Con. 20 and follow to Ste. Rose Road and turn left. Follow to Cty. Rd 3 and turn right. Continue east to Renaud Road and watch on south side of road. Please remember all the land is private property.

Horned Lark regularly overwinter in small number in eastern Ontario.

A distant view of Lapland Longspurs perched in a tree near Ste. Rose.

The Horned Larks kept feeding despite the strong winds blowing snow!

December 25, 2010 Redpolls on the move south.

Redpoll numbers continue to increase in the Ottawa area. This afternoon at around 12:45pm I observed a flock of 250+ Common Redpoll along with 2 Hoary Redpoll on Huntmar Road just south of Richardson Side Rd. The redpolls were feeding in a weedy field until a Merlin made a pass. The whole flock flew up into a tight flock, like starlings or blackbirds do when there is a raptor after them. After a few minutes the redpolls settled down to the weedy fields again and the Merlin disappeared to the west. There were at least 3 Gray Partridge near the intersection of Maple Grove Road and Silver Seven Road. Also observed 5 (1st winter) Iceland Gull near the corner of Richardson Side Road and Carp Road. If you require additional information , please email me privately.
Merry Christmas, Bruce

Common Redpolls are on the move south now.

Weedy fields are a great place to find flocks feeding.

This Merlin made an unsuccessful attempt on the feeding flock of redpolls.

December 18, 2010 Northern Hawk-Owl at Deep River

The Northern Hawk-Owl at Deep River was present today around noon at the corner of Hwy.17 and Banting Drive. We first checked up to the set of lights but no luck and finally located it sitting on top of a spruce tree at the corner. The Summer Tanager hasn't been reported since Monday December 13th.
Good Birding, Bruce and Ben



Directions: From Ottawa take Hwy. 417 west to Arnprior and continue on Hwy. 17 past Pembroke to the town of Deep River and watch for Banting Road on your right and start watching.

December 14, 2010 Winter Birding!

Spent a couple of hours birding in the Ottawa area today. Highlight was an adult Lesser Black-backed Gull at the Moodie Drive pond which is now frozen. There were around 300+ gulls including 3 Glaucous, 1 Iceland and 50+ Great Black-backed Gull. Along Trail Road near the landfill site there were 100+ Common Redpoll feeding in a weedy field until a Northern Harrier flushed them. Nearby along Barnsdale Road there a Great Blue Heron was feeding in an open creek. The Pine Warbler is still making regular visits to 5718 William McEwen Drive and a Brown Thrasher was photographed today near Dunrobin. If you require additional information, please email me privately. Good Birding, Bruce

Directions: From Ottawa take Hwy 417 west to Hwy 416. South on the 416 to exit 66 (Fallowfield Rd.) Right (west) on Fallowfield to Moodie Dr. Left (south) on Moodie, go past Trail Rd. on your left and Cambrian Rd. on your right until you come to a very large sand & gravel operation on the left (east) side of the road. ***PLEASE NOTE*** - do NOT cross the gate to the sand & gravel operation. This is private property, and most of the birds can be well-viewed from the road. The landfill site is located on Trail Road. There is no access but the gulls can be viewed from Trail Road just south of the main entrance.

Directions: From Ottawa take Hwy 416 south to exit #57 Bankfield Road. Turn right and take first left and follow to 5718 William McEwen Drive on your right. There is no parking on the road and limited parking in their laneway.

Prior to 1970 the Northern Cardinal was a very rare sight in eastern Ontario.

Nowadays, the Northern Cardinal is a permanent resident throughout much of eastern Ontario.

The Merlin is a rare winter resident in urban areas within eastern Ontario.

This Merlin made an attempt at a resting Mourning Dove but the dove escaped.

A male Hairy Woodpecker at a suet ball.

The Blue Jay is a regular sight during the winter months at feeders.

A familiar sight at feeders, the Black-capped Chickadee enjoys suet and sunflower seeds during the winter months.

December 14, 2010 Gulls and Finches

Spent a couple of hours birding in the Ottawa area today. Highlight was an adult Lesser Black-backed Gull at the Moodie Drive pond which is now frozen. There were around 300+ gulls including 3 Glaucous, 1 Iceland and 50+ Great black-backed Gull. Along Trail Road near the landfill site there were 100+ Common Redpoll feeding in a weedy field until a Northern Harrier flushed them. Nearby along Barnsdale Road there a Great Blue Heron was feeding in an open creek. The Pine Warbler is still making regular visits to 5718 William McEwen Drive and a Brown Thrasher was photographed today near Dunrobin. If you require additional information, please email me privately.
Good Birding, Bruce

Directions: From Ottawa take Hwy 417 west to Hwy 416. South on the 416 to exit 66 (Fallowfield Rd.) Right (west) on Fallowfield to Moodie Dr. Left (south) on Moodie, go past Trail Rd. on your left and Cambrian Rd. on your right until you come to a very large sand & gravel operation on the left (east) side of the road. ***PLEASE NOTE*** - do NOT cross the gate to the sand & gravel operation. This is private property, and most of the birds can be well-viewed from the road. The landfill site is located on Trail Road. There is no access but the gulls can be viewed from Trail Road just south of the main entrance.

Directions: From Ottawa take Hwy 416 south to exit #57 Bankfield Road. Turn right and take first left and follow to 5718 William McEwen Drive on your right. There is no parking on the road and limited parking in their laneway.

Prior to the late 1960's the Great black-backed Gull was rare visitor to the Ottawa district. There was a big increase during the 80's, 90's and into the 21st century. This fall/early winter there has been a noticeable decrease in numbers possibly due to a population crash and a major change in landfill site operations.

The Brown Thrasher is very rare during the winter months in eastern Ontario and most disappear, likely victims up the cold weather.

December 10, 2010 Update Pine Warbler, Baltimore Oriole and Northern Hawk-Owl

A Northern Hawk-Owl was photographed along Hwy. 15 on November 30th south of Smiths Falls near Camp Otter Lake. Unfortunately the bird hasn't been relocated and this is the second individual report over the past few weeks. The first was in the Kinburn area late November. Maybe a small movement this season. The Pine Warbler is doing well and was present this morning while a male Baltimore Oriole made a brief appearance at a suet feeder in Barrhaven, unfortunately not seen again. It is interesting to note that a male Baltimore Oriole was also photographed on November 14th at the Jack Pine Trail feeders. I wonder if it is the same individual?

Typical perch of the Northern Hawk-Owl.
photo: courtesy of Steve Mercer

Baltimore Oriole at suet feeder December 6th.
Photo: courtesy Danielle Carpentier

December 9, 2010 Presqu'ile P.P. birding

A big change since birding on Tuesday on Gull Island. With colder temperatures and lots of ice around Gull Island and Presqu'ile Bay few water birds present but still a good variety. Didn't see any of the goodies that were present on Dec. 7th but there was a injured male Green-winged Teal struggling through the ice floes at the south end of Gull Island. Along Bayshore Drive there was a nice flock of 40+ American Robins feeding on Mountain Ash berries and nearby sitting in a cedar tree an immature Cooper's Hawk was eating an American Robin. Other birds of note included a couple of Common Redpoll, 1 Northern Shrike, 1 Rusty Blackbird and a Northern Shrike.

Directions: Presqu'ile Prov. Park is on the north shore of Lake Ontario, located south of the town of Brighton. Take Hwy 401 and exit at the Brighton/Presqu'ile exit (signed) then follow the park signs once in town. Maps are available at the park gate showing locations
for Gull Is., the Lighthouse etc.

An American Robin enjoying Mountain Ash berries.

The numbers of overwintering American Robins vary each winter depending on the berry crop.

Waterfowl Hunting takes place 4 days a week.

An injured male Green-winged Teal struggles through the ice floes.

With Colder temperatures now shoreline ice is building up.


A Rusty Blackbird was at the Bird Sighting Board feeder.

Northern Shrikes appear to be on the move south this season with numerous sightings across eastern Ontario. During the past week I've observed 8 individuals.

December 8, 2010 More Amherst Island Birding

Spent the late afternoon birding Amherst Island today. Managed a quick check of the Owl Woods with 1 Long-eared Owl resting quietly. After a beautiful sunset and the Short-eared Owls began to get active. There were 6 individuals at the east end of Amherst Island, KFN property and another 12 just east of the village of Stella feeding over the fields. It's hard to know what the winter will be like on the island for raptors but we noted lots of meadow vole tracks and tunnels but hawk numbers were low.
Good birding, Bruce

Directions: 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/ ."

The Long-eared Owl is a regular winter resident on Amherst Island but numbers vary each winter. Most flush easily, so always keep a safe distance.

A Short-eared Owl over the KFN proprty at the east end of Amherst Island at dusk. Numbers vary winter to winter depending on the food supply.

December 7, 2010 Birding Presqu'ile P.P.

Bruce Di Labio and I took a "brisk and refreshing" walk around Gull
Island, Presqu'ile Prov. Park this morning and, in spite of the cold
and wind, had several nice birds:

King Eider - 1 - female south of the gap between Gull Is. and High
Bluff Is. The limestone shoals of Presqu'ile and adjacent Prince
Edward Co. were once considered the best places in southern Ontario to
see this species until the late 1980's, but since then - about when
Zebra mussels came in to play - eiders have become quite rare in our
area. I used to see between 1-7 per year here, and by contrast this
bird is only my third in the past 15 years. Nice to see again!
Harlequin Duck - 2 - male and female in surf between Gull Is. and
Sebastopol Pt. (the small island with the single large willow shrub on
it)
Purple Sandpiper - 1 - feeding on moving slush-ice (!) over-top
limestone on the north side of Sebastopol Pt.
Dunlin - 1 - uninjured bird first seen in the channel between Owen Pt.
and Gull Is., then seen again at the south-west corner of Gull.
Barrow's Goldeneye - 1 - male off the Lighthouse, by Bruce after we
split up.
Am. Coot - 43 - one with Canada's in the marsh east of the causeway
into the park, and 42 near the ice-edge in Presqu'ile Bay
Bald Eagle - 1 - immature bird flying from High Bluff Is. to mainland,
roughly coming in around Beach 2.
Red-bellied Woodpecker - 1 - Bruce saw one at the Pioneer Trail
parking lot feeder (where the Rose-br. Grosbeak was last winter).
Snow Bunting - 1 - Gull island - our only passerine on the island.

You can get to Gull island with just rubber boots but if you want to
get to Sebastopol, you will need waders and I would not attempt it if
the waves are high. Mostly it is knee deep with a few slightly
deeper sections. However if you go off the high ridge (marked by
several metal posts) you could be over you waders quickly leaving you
prone to being washed deeper by a strong wave/current so be
conservative when attempting a crossing. At this season that is no
joke and besides, what good is seeing a Purple if you don't live to
share the joy!

Directions: Presqu'ile Prov. Park is on the north shore of Lake
Ontario, located south of the town of Brighton. Take Hwy 401 and exit
at the Brighton/Presqu'ile exit (signed) then follow the park signs
once in town. Maps are available at the park gate showing locations
for Gull Is., the Lighthouse etc.

Cheers,

Doug McRae (Brighton, Ontario)

Directions: To reach Presqu'ile Provincial Park, exit Hwy. 401 south at exit 509 and
follow the signs through Brighton.

Locations within the Park are shown on a map at the back of a tabloid
that is available at the Park gate. Visitors to Gull Island not using a
boat should be prepared to wade through shin-deep water in which there
is often a swift current and a substrate that is somewhat uneven and
slippery. It should also be noted that on waterfowl hunting days
(Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays), Gull Island, High Bluff
Island, Owen Point, and part of the calf pasture are not available for
bird-watching on those days. Birders are encouraged to record their
observations on the bird sightings board provided near the campground
office by The Friends of Presqu'ile Park and to fill out a rare bird
report for species not listed there.

Late lingering Dunlin "on ice" at Gull Island.

A imm. male and female harlequin duck was one of many surprises off Gull Island.

Doug McRae crossing from Gull Island to Sebastopol Point.

The Purple Sandpiper is our latest shorebird to migrate through eastern Ontario. Presqu'ile P.P. is the best location to observe this species.

A Red-bellied Woodpecker feeding on sunflower seeds while a Red-breasted Nuthatch and Black-capped Chickadee take turns on the suet.

Close-up of the Red-bellied Woodpecker.

December 6, 2010 Birding Amherst Island

The birding on Amherst Island was good today despite the cold winds! Lots of raptors were present including 8 Red-tailed Hawk, 14 Rough-legged Hawk, 17 Northern Harrier,3 American Kestrel and 2 Northern Shrike. On the KFN property, east end section of Amherst Island we observed 42 Tundra swan and a late American Pipit. The Owl Woods had 1 Northern Saw-whet Owl and 2 Long-eared Owl along with 1 Red-bellied Woodpecker and 1 Northern Flicker. Overall a nice day on the island.

Please remember to review the OFO Birding Code of Ethics.

No flash photography.

A dark morph Rough-legged Hawk looking for lunch.

The Northern Saw-whet Owl is easy to overlook in the cedar trees. .

The Northern Saw-whet Owl is our smallest owl in eastern Ontario.

The Owl Woods is a private nature reserve.

December 5, 2010 Bohemian Waxwings and Common Redpolls

Bohemian Waxwings continue to move through/around eastern Ontario. Today I observed a flock of 35+ near Perth and yesterday there were 100+ near the corner of Carling Ave. and Moodie Drive feeding in a crabapple tree. Also, had a flock of 40+ in Almonte and two small flocks of Common Redpoll, 3 and 5 near Kanata, my first this fall. At Westport today there were 5 Bald Eagle and 1800+ Common Merganser on the Upper Rideau Lake. If you require additional information, please email me privately. Good Birding, Bruce

The Bohemian Waxwing is a erratic visitor to eastern Ontario during the late fall and winter months.

The Bald Eagle is a regular sight on the Rideau Lakes during freeze up as they search for food.

Wild Turkey can be found in most areas in eastern Ontario.

December 4, 2010 Greater White-fronted Geese in Carp

Jack Romanow found a flock of 7 Gr. White-fronted Geese along the Carp River in Carp. The geese are feeding/resting with 500+ Canada and 2 Snow Geese. He first observed at them at 11:45a.m. and they were still present at 12:25pm. Now heading up on my roof to see if I can get them for my yard list! Good Birding, Bruce

Directions: From Ottawa take Hwy. 417 to Carp Road exit.Keep right and follow towards Carp , cross March Road and watch on right for the flooded area just before bridge.

The Greater White-fronted Geese were present at dusk and at least 4 were observed today, Dec. 5th, in the same area.

The Greater White-fronted Goose is a rare but regular spring and fall migrant through eastern Ontario.

This flock of 7 ties the highest flock ever recorded in the Ottawa District. The previous record was in April 1986. Most observations are of single birds.

December 3, 2010 Pine Warbler

There is a Pine Warbler coming to a feeder just south of Ottawa. It was first observed on November 27th and reappeared today during the a.m.. The bird appears in good condition and feeding at the peanut feeder. It makes brief appearances and likely will become more regular once the cooler temps and snow arrives. The property owners, Kevin and Deanne Ryan welcome birders and please follow the O. F. O. Ethical Birding Principles.

http://www.ofo.ca/aboutus/ethics.php

Good Birding, Bruce

Directions: From Ottawa take Hwy 416 south to exit #57 Bankfield Road. Turn right and take first left and follow to 5718 William McEwen Drive on your right. There is no parking on the road and limited parking in their laneway.

The Pine Warbler is a rare late fall visitor to feeders in eastern Ontario.

Most records are from feeder watchers and the bird usually disappears during cold spells and heavy snow.

Being an insect eater Pine Warblers will feed on suet.