Birding the Kingston area February 8 and 9,2014

Hi Everyone
Spent most of the weekend birding the Kingston area including Wolfe and Amherst Island. The Snowy Owls continue to dominant the winter birding scene with 15+ on February 8th on Wolfe Island, mainly the west end of the island and 11 on February 9th on Amherst Island, with at least 5 out on the ice along the south shore. There were very few hawks observed, 2 American Kestrel on Wolfe and 3 Red-tailed Hawks on Amherst Island. One Northern Shrike was observed at the east end ( Martin Edwards Reserve) of Amherst Island. Overall very few land birds on either island but did see a couple of small flocks of Snow Bunting on Wolfe Island. There was virtually no water birds due to the ice conditions except a small number in the ice chocked ferry channels. At the Kingston ferry dock a flock of 110+ Greater Scaup, 3 Lesser Scaup,1 Red-breasted Merganser,6 Common Merganser, and 2 Common Goldeneye were crammed into the limited open water. At the Millhaven dock a flock of 6 Red-breasted Mergansers were dealing with a similar situation. Watch for Snowy Owls on the ice when crossings.
The road into the "Owl Woods" is impassable with amazingly high snow drifts but there is a well packed path you can follow to the woods. I haven't seen snow banks so high on Amherst Island in years! Interestingly we observed a group of 4 Ring-necked Pheasant (3 male,1 female) and 1 female feeding on the remaining Wild Grapes that were still on the vine in a Hawthorne tree. This is likely due to the deep snow this winter. I've only observed pheasants in trees once, back in 1972 at the Arboretum in Ottawa. The warm water lagoon at the Invista/DuPont Plant had 200+ Mallard,15+ American Black Duck, 7 Gadwall, and 6 American Coot.
Please review the OFO Birding code of ethics at http://www.ofo.ca/ofo-docs/Code_of_Ethics.pdf
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 meters 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 ( Martin Edwards Reserve) is at the easternmost part of the island on the east side of the Lower Forty Foot Road. To reach the Owl Woods, turn left (east) at the four-way stop sign by the general store and drive 3.4 km along Front Rd. to the (seasonal) Marshall Forty-Foot Rd. Marshall Forty-Foot Rd. is across the road from house #2320. Drive along Marshall Rd. to the mid-way point, where there is an "S" in the road (1.2 km, look for the K.F.N. kiosk which had owl observing ethics). Park in the gravel lane or off the road edge.
Directions: Wolfe Island ferry is located along the waterfront in down  town Kingston. Check ferry schedule at http://www.wolfeisland.com/ferry.php

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 Snowy Owl continues to be the STAR of  winter birding. 

After last years invasion of Great Gray Owls in eastern Ontario is was nice to see them again. 

On Amherst Island most Snowy Owls were observed sitting on the ice or along the shoreline. This individual decided  the best vantage point was from a roof of a home along the shore. 

An unusual sight was a group of 4 Ring-necked Pheasant feeding on Wild Grapes on a vine up in a tree. 

By chance I was able to capture a flight shot of the pheasant as it flew to another tree to feed. 

The heavy ice conditions along the ferry route made it difficult for these Red-breasted Mergansers to find an open area of water. 

There is lots of snow on Amherst Island and the road into the Owl Woods Preserve  is impassible due to very high snow drifts.  

The Amherst Island ferry pushes through the ice chocked channel. 

February 8,2014 Red-necked Grebe flight in eastern Ontario?

The birding along the Ottawa River continues to be unpredictable this winter in spite of the extreme cold and ice conditions. A total of 3 Red-necked Grebes were discovered this morning, two at Deschenes Rapids and one at Remic Rapids. Mid winter records for the Ottawa-Gatineau district are very rare and usually associated with mild conditions. There was also one Horned Grebe observed at Deschenes Rapids which  there are only a few winter records for the Ottawa-Gatineau district too.  There have a been a few other sightings of but grebes over the past week in eastern Ontario including, the Kingston area, Presqu'ile Provincial Park and a couple towards the Toronto region. Since there has been no mild weather are these birds being forced out of there wintering areas on the Great Lakes due to the ice conditions? 

Good birding,

Bruce

photo courtesy of John Cooper
One of 3 Red-necked Grebes found along the Ottawa River today. 

January 1, 2014 More Snowy Owls sightings in eastern Ontario.

Hi Everyone
The Snowy Owl southward movement continues with more sightings from various areas in eastern Ontario. On December 26th  I observed 10+ in the Winchester area and yesterday 5 were found behind the Ottawa Airport. On the Massena -Cornwall CBC at least 3 were found. The overall total for eastern Ontario is now reaching 150 birds. This is unprecedented as far as I know for this region. Over the years there has been concentrated areas or "hot spots" like Wolfe or Amherst Island. With all of the sighting south of eastern Ontario there must be 100's of Snowy Owls in Ontario. I have found the best time to look for these owls is late day or on overcast days. Check all the telephone poles, fence posts, buildings in open farm land areas and tree tops.
Good birding,
Bruce

Directions: If you require additional information please email me privately.

Di Labio Birding Website
Courses and Field Trips
http://www.dilabiobirding.ca
http://www.brucedilabio.blogspot.com

Telephone poles are one of the favourite vantage points for the Snowy Owl.

Surprisingly Snowy Owls  can blend to their surrounds while sitting on top of telephone poles and easily be over looked.  

Check any high perch for these owls. 

January 1, 2014 Snowy Owl irruption continues!

Hi Everyone
The Snowy Owl southward irruption continues in eastern Ontario. Since early December the numbers have been slowly increasing with a noticeable movement on December 8th when a combined total of 25 individuals were observed in the Richmond and Casselman-Hawkesbury areas. Sightings continue to be reported all over eastern Ontario including concentrations in the Kingston area including both Wolfe and Amherst Island, Presqu'ile Provincial Park, Cobden, Winchester-Chesterville and along the St.Lawrence River from Cornwall to Brockville. This is likely the largest southward and most widespread movement of Snowy Owls in the past 4 decades. Based on reports, I estimate between 100-130+ Snowy Owls are either present or have passed through eastern Ontario moving further south in search of food. This movement coincides with a large movement in Newfoundland and in north-eastern United States. Please remember to review OFO's birding code of ethics. http://www.ofo.ca/ofo-docs/Code_of_Ethics.pdf
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! 
Good birding,
Bruce

Directions: If you require additional information,please email me privately.

Di Labio Birding Website
Courses and Field Trips
http://www.dilabiobirding.ca
http://www.brucedilabio.blogspot.com

Look for Snowy Owls as they perch on telephone poles, fence posts or on structures  scanning the surrounding fields for prey. 

Snowy Owl numbers continue to increase in eastern Ontario. 

October 4,2013 Ottawa: Brant and scoters on Lake Deschenes

Hi Ontbirders
Today, October 4th, I spent 3 hours birding from Shirley's Bay to Britannia Pier along the Ottawa River at Lake Deschenes. There appeared to have been a small fallout of waterfowl with a number of flocks resting on the river. I counted a total of 146 Brant (4 flocks) , 138 White-winged Scoter (3 flocks) 5 Surf Scoter and 1 male Black Scoter. Other species noted included 27 Red-breasted Merganser, 62 Greater Scaup, 38 Lesser Scaup, 4 Common Goldeneye, 18 American Black Duck, 12 Mallard, 14 Northern Pintail and 7 Green-winged Teal. Also counted 3 Red-necked Grebe, 2 Horned Grebe and 2 Common Loon. I checked later in the afternoon and all the Brant had left along with most of the puddle ducks.
Good birding,
Bruce
Directions: There are a number of viewing point between Shirley's Bay and Britannia Point. All areas are accessible off Carling Ave.

October 3,2013 Birding Lake Deschenes

I spent a couple of hours this morning birding Lake Deschenes from Dick Bell Park. I stationed myself down towards the mouth of the harbour and scanned the lake with my scope. The overall viewing conditions were good  at first but as the winds pick up and the temperature rose it became more difficult to identify water birds at a distance due to the choppy waters and distortion. There had been an obvious increase in northern diving ducks with a flock of 16 White-winged Scoter,  mainly adult males, 22 Greater Scaup, 28 Lesser Scaup, 1 Bufflehead, 3 Common Goldeneye, and 1 Red-breasted Merganser. I  also observed, 1 Common Merganser, 2 American Wigeon, 6 American Black Duck, 2 Mallards and 6 Horned Grebe all out on the lake. Few gulls flew by mainly ring-billed Gull but did record 2 Great Black-backed Gulls. Not much else except for a couple of flocks of Canada Geese. 
Good birding, 
Bruce

October 1, 2013 Eurasian Wigeon in Ottawa. .

 A male Eurasian Wigeon in eclipse plumage put in a brief appearance along the Ottawa River between Andrew Haydon Park and Britannia Pier. The wigeon was first observed off the east end of the main park. It was present for a short period of time before disappearing. It was finally observed at 12:00 noon as it fly by and landed off Scriven's Road area. It appeared very wary-nervous and didn't associate with any of the other water fowl that were present. It finally took flight at around 12:30 p.m. and was last seen flying east. A good location to look is Mud Lake at the Britannia Conservation Area.  

Good birding,
Bruce

A male Eurasian Wigeon  in eclipse plumage.