December 13, 2011 Amherst Island Birding

 Hi Everyone

Spent a couple of days, (Dec.12 &13) birding Amherst Island along with my son Ben. We had a total of 6 Snowy Owls, 4 on the KFN property and 2 along South Shore Road. Yesterday, the Short-eared Owls began to actively hunt at 3:15pm, in the bright sunshine along Front Road just east of Stella. There we counted 14 Short-eared. On Dec. 12th, at the KFN property at the gravel point we observed a Purple Sandpiper along with a Marsh Wren in the nearby cattails. Today there was a Greater Yellowlegs, and a Common Yellowthroat. Overall the hawk numbers were low with 18 Northern Harrier, 22 Rough-legged Hawk, 14 Red-tailed Hawk, 2 American Kestrel, 1 Cooper's Hawk plus 400 Mourning Dove, and 1 Merlin. Other birds of note included a male Red-bellied Woodpecker and a flock of 23 White-winged Crossbill. If you require additional information please email me privately. 

Good birding, Bruce and Ben 

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 $9.00 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/ ."

These photos were taken with an iPod camera through my Kowa 88mm. I forgot my camera at home. Ben did a great job digiscoping. 

Snowy Owl sitting on frozen pond.

Snowy Owl  perched on rock.

Purple Sandpiper just west of gravel bar.

Snowy Owl on gravel bar.

December 12, 2011 Amherst Island birding

The birding on Amherst island was good today with a total of 5 Snowy owls, 3 on the KFN property and 2 along the Southshore Road. At the gravel bar at the east end a Purple sandpiper was observed feeding and a surprise find a late Marsh Wren feeding in the cattails. There were 15+ Tundra swans resting off the point too. Ben and I checked the "Owl Woods"  but only came up with one Long-eared Owl, no luck with  small owls. The late afternoon was spent driving the various roads looking for raptors. overall ,somewhat quiet but we did find 1 Merlin, 2 Americas Kestrel, 11 Northern Harrier, and a small number of both Rough-legged and Red-tailed Hawks. At 3:15 p.m. we counted 14 Short-eared Owls just east of Stella feeding over the fields with 3 swooping down at a Northern Harrier as it was perched on a fence post. Overall a nice sunny day with a high of +7c! 


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 $9.00 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 contactinformation or how to become a member, please visit http://kingstonfieldnaturalists.org/ ."

December 11, 2011 Rufous Hummingbird at Eganville, Renfrew County.

This morning, while reading the Ottawa Citizen Bird Column I noticed another report of a late hummingbird. This time it was coming to a feeder up the valley at Eganville. A couple of weeks earlier another hummer was reported from Russell, Ontario. Unfortunately not at a feeder and only seen briefly. With such a mild fall it didn't surprise me that a hummingbird was still alive. With an overnight low of -6c I hopping the bird was still ok. I waited till 9:00a.m. and phoned Lorna and Dennis Peterson. They reported that the hummer was resting in a crabapple tree near the feeder and that the hummingbird feeder food was frozen. I headed up and arrived around 10:30a.m. and the hummingbird had just left the feeder. The Peterson's informed me that the hummer was feeding every 15-30 minutes. I waited and it appeared on time. Jeff Skevington and his dad, Richard arrived soon after and we all got great views and numerous photos and a video. In Ontario the Rufous Hummingbird is a very rare visitor and has occurred in a number of locations including northern Ontario. There are only a few previously documented records of Rufous Hummingbird  for eastern Ontario including  a adult male at Algonquin Park, July 30-August 3, 1986, an immature male at Battersea near Kingston from September 16- December 19,1987, and another immature male at Kingston, November 21,2003-January 7, 2004.  All were at hummingbird feeders. The Rufous Hummingbird is a well known vagrant to eastern North America and has occurred east to Newfoundland. Any late lingering hummingbird should be closely scrutinize and not assumed a Ruby-throated Hummingbird. There is also a very similar looking hummingbird in the selasphorus genus, the Allen's which has been found in the east. There is a difference in the tail pattern and hopefully that will show well in the video that Jeff obtained. Still no record of Allen's for Ontario. 

Rufous hummingbird at feeder

Rear view showing some of tail pattern. 

Side view of Rufous Hummingbird. Note ice floating in feeder. 

December 8, 2011 Presqu'ile and Amherst Island birding

Spent a couple of hours birding both Presqu'ile Provincial Park and Amherst Island. Strong winds along the Lake Ontario made the crossing over to Gull Island somewhat difficult and impossible  for wading over to Sebastopol Island/point. Hightlights included a very tame Purple Sandpiper, 2 Snowy Owl, 1 Northern Shrike and 100's of Common Goldeneye, Bufflehead, Red-breasted Merganser, and Long-tailed Duck. On Presqu'ile Bay I counted 130+ Amercian Coot and 80+ Mute Swan.
On Amherst Island, at the east end, KFN property, there was 1 Snowy Owl patrolling the open field and a late Killdeer at the gravel bar. A flock of 27 Tundra Swan were feeding/resting off the bar.

Directions: Courtesy of Fred Helleiner: To reach Presqu'ile Provincial Park, follow the signs from 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, because duck hunting is given priority on 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.

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 $9.00 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. Please note that the smaller ferry is still in use.

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 contactinformation or how to become a member, please visit
http://kingstonfieldnaturalists.org/ ."

Presqu'ile Provincial Park is the best location in eastern Ontario and likely southern Ontario to see Purple sandpiper up close in late November and December. 

These sandpipers are the last to migrate through eastern Ontario.

The real duck hunter at Presqu'ile.

Hip waders are necessary for crossing over to Gull island. 

This arctic sandpiper winters along the eastern coast from Newfoundland to New Jersey. A few do reach the Gulf of Mexico.   

It's difficult to hide when you white and there is no snow! 

December 6, 2011 A Red Squirrel at work.

While watching the bird activity at my feeders after a light snow fall i noticed a Red Squirrel working to try and open my "Squirrels Dilemma" feeder. As it pushed up on the lid I realized I hadn't tighten the top and there was no stopping this squirrel. 

Working the lip up with its nose. 

A second try after the lid slide down.

A header should work!

Now I can work my way in for breakfast.

Where's the feed?

I still can't reach it!!

I give up.

December 2-4, 2011 Niagara River Birding

It was an amazing 3 days birding along the Niagara River! With 12 species of gulls including Slaty-backed, Franklin's, Little and Black-legged Kittiwake, Harlequin Ducks, Black Vultures, Razorbill, Pomarine and Parasitic Jaeger plus Tufted Titmouse, Red-bellied Woodpecker, and Carolina Wren it was truely exciting. Forgot, female King Eider at the end of Fruitland Road. The weather was great, no rain and the temperature ranged from +0c to +12c. The fly-by at Niagara-on-the-Lake produced 5,500+ Bonaparte's Gull and 1 Franklin's Gull on December 2nd and on December 3rd, 3,500+ Bonaparte's Gull, 3 Little Gull and 1 Franklin's Gull. Likely the same Franklin's Gull that has been hanging around Sir Adam Beck. Overall this was an exceptional trip.

Three female Harlequin Ducks resting on the break wall below the Control Gates on December 4th. 

Tufted Titmouse were present at Chippawa and Dufferin Island .

Juvenile  Pomarine Jaeger at Sir Adam Beck. 

The  juvenile Pomarine  Jaeger spent lots of time harassing gulls.

On December 3rd only 2 female Harlequin ducks were present.

The first winter Franklin's Gull  was seen at Sir Adam Beck and at NOTL at the fly-by. 

A first winter Black-legged Kittiwake at the Whirlpool.  Most records of kittiwake along the Niagara River are first winter birds.

December 3, 2011 Slaty-backed Gull along Niagara River

Another exciting day along the Niagara River today! Kevin McLaughlin found an adult Slaty-backed Gull along the breakwall, just below the control gate. Here are some photos we took.

Adult Slaty-backed Gull on breakwall

Closer view of Slaty-backed Gull

Slaty-backed Gull preening

Slaty-backed Gull with wings spread

Another view of Slaty-backed Gull