Sighting reports originating from the ONTBIRDS mail server network are repeated courtesy of the Ontario Field Ornithologists (OFO).

Strong SW winds at Amherst Island made shorebirding difficult but also produced a hatch year BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE along the northeast shore. Two LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS and a PECTORAL SANDPIPER were the most interesting shorebirds. Birds of prey were almost nonexistent with only two ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS and one SAW-WHET OWL.

Having been alerted by Ontbirds to the die-off elsewhere in the great lakes I searched the shoreline extensively and was rewarded with 2 cheap duck decoys but found no dead birds.

Sighting reports originating from the ONTBIRDS mail server network are repeated courtesy of the Ontario Field Ornithologists (OFO).

Hello Ont. Birders

Today Oct.15th, I birded Amherst Island from 9:00am to 1:45pm. Strong winds made birding somewhat difficult but the KFN property was very productive including, waterfowl observations of 68 Gadwall, 275 Northern Pintail, 18 Redhead, 2 Bufflehead. In the shorebird family, a total of 13 species were found. Highlights included: 1 Western Sandpiper, 1 Long-billed Dowitcher, 1 Baird's Sandpiper, and 7 White-rumped Sandpipers. There was a notable movement of 450 American Pipits, 120 Lapland Longspurs and 3 Snow Buntings. A quick check of the owl woods produced no owls, but 7 Fox Sparrows and a small flock of Siskins were found.

Good Birding

Hi Gord,

Took a hike along the shore of Amherst Island this evening , on the KFN property. Flushed a whimbrel from the edge of the pond, who circled, called, and landed back in more or less the same place, then allowed me to approach within 10 yards,before wading nonchalantly away. Several killdeer and an immature black bellied plover took flight as I approached, along with a couple of spotted sandpipers and a lesser yellowlegs. Also a great blue heron, 8 wood ducks and 4 blue winged teal. And two of the biggest snapping turtles I've ever seen - Jurassic Park material. Several mallards and a few teal were riding on the lake near the foot of the bar. Also several Canada geese and another great blue heron. An immature harrier was patrolling the area and gave me a nice close look-over.

At the foot of the bar along the shore I found a really nice black bellied plover still in breeding plumage, along with 5 greater yellowlegs and 8 lesser yellowlegs, 5 sanderlings and several peeps that buggered off before I had a chance to ID'em (excuses, excuses)

The only shorebirds out on the bar were a single lesser yellowlegs and a killdeer. About 20 Caspian terns, a few herring gulls, an immature black backed gull and a dozen or so cormorants were loafing at the end of the bar, with a few more mallards.

On the way back to the truck, an American bittern flew in from the lake and landed in the cattails at the edge of the pond. Also saw savannah sparrows and bobolinks.

Bye for now,

The recent snow storm seems to have delayed migration somewhat here. There is still no sign of small owl movement here. The 2 SAW-WHET OWLS that have been present all winter are still here as of today. Still lots of hawks including about 50 ROUGH-LEGS, almost as many RED-TAILS, and a few NORTHERN HARRIERS and AMERICAN KESTRELS.

Sighting reports originating from the ONTBIRDS mail server network are repeated courtesy of the Ontario Field Ornithologists (OFO).

Today march 15, several KFN members looked without success for the ferruginous hawk (and boreal owl) reported on Sat. March 13 on Amherst Island. There are oodles of rough-legged hawks, some red-tails, harriers and plenty of voles. Will post if I hear any further reports of ferruginous hawk. The roads are muddy !!

Sighting reports originating from the ONTBIRDS mail server network are repeated courtesy of the Ontario Field Ornithologists (OFO).

On Saturday Mar.13,1999 Stan Bajurny and I went to Amherst Island after seeing the Varied Thrush east of Portland and I think we had kind of a good day.

Over the field immediately west of the owl woods at 1:10 pm I spotted a white bird overhead that I thought might be a white-winged gull at my first quick glance as I was concentrating on wading through the snow.

As soon as I looked harder I realized that I had a Ferruginous Hawk. It was a light or normal phase bird that soared over our heads for 5 minutes before moving off into the sun. It had all the classic field marks i.e. dark legs forming a V, white tail, black-tipped wings, dark commas on underside of wings, reddish brown back and top of wings,etc. We had a very good and close up look at this bird and it is worth watching for.

The Boreal Owl was seen along the southeast road beside the lake of all places. It was just east of the owl woods road and Alex Scott's house. It appeared very nervous about being out in the open and maybe just arrived from somewhere offshore. It is a good possibility that it moved on to the owl woods.

Before we got back to the ferry we stopped to look at the Red-headed Woodpecker and also found a Ring-necked Pheasant in a field between Emerald and Stella.

Sighting reports originating from the ONTBIRDS mail server network are repeated courtesy of the Ontario Field Ornithologists (OFO).

Today, Feb. 26 th., I made a trip to Amherst Island which is west of Kingston. While on the 9:30 am ferry from Milhaven to the island, I observed a SNOWY OWL sitting on the ice next to the ferry channel about half way across. The Snowy's have been very very scarce in the area this winter. It was not to be seen when I returned on the 3:00 pm ferry.

While on the Island, the following were observed;

• - 31 Rough-legged Hawks
• - 12 Red-tailed Hawks
• - 1 Red-shouldered Hawk
• - 7 American Kestrels

There appears to be at least 50 species of birds resident on Amherst as the new year opens. Highlights so far include an immature RED-HEADED WOODPECKER at a feeder on the 2nd Concession on the way to the Back Beach, a female RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER at a feeder on the 2nd Concession just east of the Emerald Road as well as a few NORTHERN FLICKERS along the north shore of the Island. There is a lone HERMIT THRUSH and a small flock of YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS near Tonti Wood on the north shore.

Raptors are numerous and widespread with 20-30 REDTAILED HAWKS and similar numbers of ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS scattered over the Island, but mainly along the 2nd Concession. There are also small numbers of NORTHERN HARRIER and AMERICAN KESTREL. A SHARP-SHINNED HAWK was seen today near Eve's Marsh on the south shore on the way to Long Point. There appears to be 3 or 4 NORTHEN SHRIKE regular too.

There are LONG-EARED OWL to be found at several locations and at least 3 in the Owl Woods. At least 3 SAW-WHET OWLS have been regular in the Owl Woods as well. SHORT -EARED OWLS have also been seen but irregularly, usually at the east end near the KFN property, or just south of the Village of Stella between the Church and the Fire Hall. No SNOWY OWLS have yet been found this winter.

The waters around the Island remain open so far and there is a good assortment of ducks and geese as well as a few gulls including a few remaining BONEPARTE'S GULLS.

---