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.

December 1, 2010 Ross's Goose New for the winter list

Today, December 1st, 1 adult Ross's Goose was still present along Greenbank Road south of Hunt Club Road. The goose was difficult to see due to its small size and was out of sight or hidden by Canada Geese most of the time I was there at around 11:00am. Also, I observed 1 adult Snow Goose and 1 Cackling Goose.
Good Birding , Bruce

Directions: From Hwy. 417 take Greenbank Road south to Hunt Club Rd. and watch on the west side of Greenbank Rd.