January 11 & 12, 2011 Birding Newfoundland

After a number of delays I finally arrived at St. john's about 6 hours late! In Ottawa we sat on the tarmack for 1 hour while a flight instrument was changed. Then in Halifax our direct flight was canceled and we were put on a later flight and arrived in St. John's at 7:00p.m.
Anyway regardless of the slow start the following days were wonderful for birding. On January 11th we started birding at Lake Quidi Vikki and saw the BLACK-TAILED GULL, a second record for NF which had been around for a few weeks. This was a LIFER for me and the group! The Black-tailed Gull is a vagrant in North American from Asia. We had fantastic views as it sat and preened along the edge of the lake. See photos below. Later during the day we had a variety of great birds including Eurasian Wigeon, Tufted Duck, Eurasian Teal, Yellow-legged Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Common Gull, and a Yellow Warbler! The warbler has been around in the city for the past month or so feeding along a creek and appears to be doing well so far.

On January 12th we headed out to the south shore area and at Renews we were fortunate to see the Northern Lapwing which had been found earlier in the month. It was resting along the shorleine with a Black-bellied Plover and a group of Killdeers. This vagrant from Europe was a new Northern American species for all of us. Later on we saw a male Baltimore Oriole coming to a suet feeder and 25+ Killdeer at various locations. Since there is no snow it looks more like April in Ottawa then the mid of January! Our last stop at Point La Hayes yielded 8 Ruddy Turnstone and 24 Purple Sandpiper. Not bad for 2 days birding!

A number of views of a Black-tailed Gull preening at Quidi Vidi Lake, St. John's Newfoundland.

A flock of Eurasian Wigeon with 2 female American Wigeon.

Close-up of a male Eurasian Wigeon in St. John's.

A Yellow Warbler in January in NF is an amazing record.

The Northern Lapwing at Renews, Newfoundland.

January 9, 2011 More birding in the Kingston area.

The birding on Amherst Island was again good today. We spent a bit of time in the “Owl Woods” and were successful in seeing 1 Boreal Owl, 4 Northern Saw-whet Owl and 6 Long-eared Owls. The feeder were active with lots of Black-capped Chickadee, White-breasted Nuthatch, American Tree Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, House Finch, Hairy Woodpecker and a couple of Northern Cardinals. Along the Southshore Road the immature male Harlequin Duck was still feeding in a small group of Bufflehead. We walked out on the KFN property and had great views of two Snowy owls, one heavily barred individual and a slighter barred one which now bring the total to 3 on the KFN property over the past week. A surprise was a Short-eared Owl along the shoreline which flew up and began harassing a Rough-legged Hawk over the water for a few mintues. We later watched the same Short-eared Owl chasing a Herring Gull over the gravel point! Over last stop in the Kingston area was at the DuPont plant/Elevator Bay which had a large concentration of Redhead, Greater Scaup and Common Merganser totalling over 4000+ ducks. Other species of noted including Gadwall, Ring-necked duck, Hooded Merganser and Tundra Swans.

The road to the Owl Woods is still open but remember to park off the road. The parking is limited and if there is a snow fall with blowing snow the road we be closed due to drifting.

Please following the rules while birding in the woods. They are listed on the kiosk at the entrance.

One of the Boreal Owls sitting with a Meadow Vole in its talons.

Access to the KFN property is restricted to club members or those accompanied by a member.

Dave Milson and group watching a Snowy Owl.

January 8, 2011 Birding Wolfe and Amherst Island

Spent the morning birding Wolfe Island. Overall the activity level was low but we did manage to find an active group of Short-eared Owl which put on a nice display for us. No Snowy Owl were found which appears to be the "norm" so far this winter. Numerous Rough-legged Hawk and Red-tailed Hawk were observed, a few Northern Harrier and American Kestrel were seen. Waterfowl numbers were also low and a small flock of Tundra Swans were still along the south side of the island in Button Bay. In afternoon we birded Amherst Island till dusk and found 2 Boreal, 3 Northern Saw-whet and 6 Long-eared Owls and again no luck with Snowy Owls.

Past and present day Wolfe Island.

Now Wind Turbines dot the landscape on Wolfe Island.

Rough-legged Hawk

One area had 250+ Mourning Doves resting in a number of trees near a feeder.


Short-eared Owl coming in for a landing.

Short-eared Owls perched.

Short-eared Owls can sometimes be very active during the daylight hours.

A Short-eared Owl resting on a conveyor belt with a wind-turbine in the back ground.

close-up.

A Red-tailed Hawk sits quietly as the large turbine blades turn.

No shortage of raptors on Wolfe Island.

A dark morph Rough-legged Hawk in flight.

Northern Saw-whet Owl

Northern Saw-whet Owl roosting.

The Long-eared Owls roosting.

Boreal Owl

Boreal Owl

January 5 and 6 , 2011 Birding the Kingston area

The birding in the Kingston region continues to be good. Today, January 5th, Ben and I birded Amherst Island for the day and we had a number of owls on the island. During the morning we located 4 Northern Saw-whet Owls and a group of 9 Long-eared Owls roosting together. In the afternoon we returned to the "Owl Woods" and located 1 Boreal Owl. An dusk, we saw 3 Short-eared Owl near Stella along with 2 Northern Shrike. On January 6th we spent sometime at the Dupont Plant and observed a varying of waterfowl including 1250+ Redhead, 2000+ Greater Scaup, 120+ Ring-necked Duck, 1 Canvasback, 3 American Wigeon, 36 Gadwall, 24 Hooded Merganser, and 9 Tundra Swan along with 23 American Coot.

An Eastern Cottontail resting in the woods.

A Red-tailed Hawk in flight.

A Northern Saw-whet Owl roosting in a Buckthorn.

Another Northern Saw-whet Owl roosting.

The Northern Saw-whet Owl is a regular winter visitor to the Kingston area.

The Long-eared Owl is very gregarious and can sometimes roost in large groups.
How many can you see!

The Boreal Owl is a rare visitor to the Kingston area.

A Gray Squirrel "Red Morph" was a surprise in Kingston.

January 2, 2011 Dunrobin-Breckenridge Christmas Bird Count Results

The 30th Dunrobin,On-Breckenridge, P.Q. Christmas Bird Count took place on January 2nd , 2011. Weather conditions varied from a very mild start at +6C while owling at 2:30a.m. to -2C in the late afternoon. Throughout the day, it was mainly overcast with varying winds out of the SSW changing through the day to WSW before the compilation. There was a sprinkling of snow in early afternoon and little snow cover on the ground, which made for easy walking. I would like to thank the record 57 field observers for their great effort in the field. This year, a total of 57 species were recorded and a number of new record highs. Again, many thanks to everyone who participated on the 30th Annual Dunrobin-Breckinridge Christmas Bird Count.

The following highlights were recorded.

New Species: No new species and the overall total remains at 110 species.

Record Highs: Previous highs are shown in parentheses, followed by the year. Mallard 116 (89,1993) Great Blue Heron 2 (1 6yrs. last 2006) Barred Owl 9 (4,1998) Red-bellied Woodpecker 2 (1,1989) European Starling 1374 (1196,2002)

Tied Record Highs: Previous record year in parentheses. Northern Saw-whet Owl 2 (1988,1999) Belted Kingfisher (1988,1998) Brown Thrasher (2010)

Other species of interest: Northern Harrier 1 (4th record) Ring-billed Gull 1 (3rd record) Northern Hawk-Owl 1 (9th record) Northern Shrike 2, and Bohemian Waxwing 1018.

Finches: Pine Grosbeak (1) Purple finch (0) White-winged Crossbill (0) Red Crossbill (0) Common Redpoll (337) Hoary Redpoll (1) Pine Siskin (15) American Goldfinch (283) Evening Grosbeak (13)

I would like to thank my wife Laurie for preparing the wonderful post-count supper and to all participants who brought deserts, food and wine to celebrate the 30th anniversary! Good Birding, Bruce

One of the two male Red-bellied Woodpeckers setting a new record high for the count.

Recent mild conditions were responsible for the record high Mallard numbers found on the count.

A late lingering Great Blue Heron along March Valley Road was on of two found on the count. Another record high.

The Barred Owl numbers were impressive with a new record high of 9 breaking the old record of 4 back in 1998!

A Brown Thrasher coming to a feeder was only the second count record. Interestingly the first record was last year.

January 1, 2011 Pine Warbler still doing well.

Happy New Year!

The overwintering Pine Warbler is still surviving and appears in good condition. It regularly feeder at the suet cake. There are only a couple of January records for the Ottawa-Gatineau District for this warbler. Most individuals disappear once the extreme cold winter sets into the region.

This brightly plumage male Pine Warbler is surviving on a diet suet.

The Pine Warbler is one of only a few warbler species to attempt overwintering in eastern Ontario. Other species include Ovenbird, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Yellow-throated Warbler and Black-throated Green Warbler.

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.