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

Waterfowl numbers are building up now around the Kingston area. Two large flocks of mainly greater scaup estimated at over 5,000 each in Bayfield Bay off Wolfe Island and off the north shore of Prince Edward Point today. KFN field trip to the Point also found many horned grebes, 3 red-necked grebes, flocks of old squaw and white-winged scoters, and two peregrine falcons. Small movements of kinglets, pine siskins and purple finches.

Also off Wolfe Island were 30 snow geese among thousands of Canadas, 4 tundra swans, redheads, ring-necked ducks, 8 ruddy ducks, pintail, bufflehead and a few canvasback. Numbers of pipits were seen along the roads. Shorebirds were 80 dunlin, 9 black-bellied plover, and both yellowlegs.

In the Cataraqui River at Bell Island and the Little Cataraqui Creek at Lake Ontario, large rafts of puddle ducks are safe from hunters. Over 1000 American wigeon, 1500 mallard, 400 gadwall, 60 black duck, both scaup, 50 redhead, 100 ring-necked ducks, 2 blue-winged teal, 30 green-winged teal, 16 northern shoveller, 150 coot, and 16 pied billed grebes were present today. Shorebirds were pectoral, dunlin and yellowlegs.

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

Great egrets are usually seen singly in the Kingston area. So six is a bit unusual here. Two were reported Sept. 8th; 5 on Sept. 9th and 6 today Sept. 10th in a small wetland on the north side of highway 401 just east of the Desoronto exit, (between km marker 572 and 574). Please take care as the highway is busy and the shoulder is not a great place to stop. The next exit east of Desoronto is Napanee, and Napanee is west of Kingston.

Paul Mackenzie

Hi Gord,

Today the first migratory shorebirds made an appearance here at my pond north of Gananoque. A pair of solitary sandpipers (are they still solitary when they're together?) arrived overnight too join the killdeer and common snipe that have been here all summer. Also had great blue heron, Canada geese (400) cedar waxwings (50) eastern bluebird (4) phoebe, kingbird, goldfinch, and a kingfisher. Large flocks of tree swallows are beginning to amass here, probably 500 or better this evening, feeding over the ponds. Also large flocks of killdeer (75+) on the short grass pasture near the pond. A lone kestrel was hunting those fields at sunset.

Hi Gordon:

July 20 about 9 A. M., following a lead from Paul MacKenzie, with two other birders, I observed a single long-billed dowitcher at Amherst Sewage Lagoons. Also present was one stilt sandpiper, 25 or more least sandpipers, a gathering of semi-palmated sandpipers, two semi-palmated plovers, killdeer, spotted sandpiper, green-winged teal, shoveller, mallard, black duck, gadwall. Flying ovehead were: osprey, two red-tailed hawks, three varieties of swallows, Caspian tern, et al. The first lagoon on the left has great mudflats due to partial drainage. Also, the paths around the lagoons offer a splendid array of wild flowers in bloom.

Three adult dowitchers at Amherstview lagoons today made a nice comparison between two short-billed and a long-billed. Based on heavily barred flanks and dark tail markings, and narrow pale edging on scapulars I called the one with a very long (and downturned-tip) bill a long-billed. I could not hear any of their calls clearly. Also 2 stilt sandpipers and the usuals.

Hello, I have an interesting report for Lemoine Point hiking trails in Kingston, located next to the Kingston airport. The spotted western race of the Rufous-sided Towhee. This observation was made at 3.30 pm on 12 July 99, and was a male. The bird had additional white wing bars and numerous white spots on the back as compared to the Rufous-sided towhee (eastern species). This was a new addition to my life list and was a nice observation for Kingston.

paul r otoole
saturn@ihorizons.net

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Actually this is a separate species now - a true new life species for you!

Sincerely,
Gord .... gord@web-nat.com

I believe I have sighted a pair of peregrine falcons in Kingston. They were seen in the centre of Kingston and appeared to have a nest in the upper reaches of a tall maple tree.

I'm really not a bird watcher but have a book and the description seems to fit with those seen.

Found your site and thought you might be interested.

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

A male RUDDY DUCK was at the amherstview sewage lagoons near Kingston at noon today, May 7.

I did NOT see the curlew sandpiper. The semi-p's were still there, but no curlew sandpiper.

The sewage lagoons can be found by exiting highway 401 at highway 133 south, to highway 33 east into Amherstview. At the lights at Coronation Blvd. turn north over the railway tracks and watch for the first left, Golfcourse road. This leads to the golfcourse in about 1 km or so, and a dirt road just goes straight before the Golfhouse and leads to the lagoons.

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

Sunday June 6th Ron Weir found a basic plumage curlew sandpiper at Amherstview Sewage lagoons near Kingston. It is in the partly drained south-east pond, along with a small flock of semipal sandpipers.

The sewage lagoons can be found by exiting highway 401 at highway 133 south, to highway 33 east into Amherstview. At the lights at Coronation Blvd. turn north over the railway tracks and watch for the first left, Golfcourse road. This leads to the golfcourse in about 1 km or so, and a dirt road just goes straight before the Golfhouse and leads to the lagoons.

I just arrived back from a good view of Bicknell's thrush at Mont Megantic, 75 km east of Sherbrooke P.Q. Further info on this on request.

Paul Mackenzie

I will be entering a team in the Taverner Cup Birdathon on May 29th. We would like to hear from birders in the Kingston area that can help us locate any reliable breeding birds that our team (Nikon Nightjars) could find, if and when we cover that area. This is our first birdathon and would appeciate any assistance you can supply.

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

On Amherst Island today Ron Weir and Joel Ellis had a long-billed dowitcher among more common shorebirds. There were 12 Wilsons Phalarope on territory.

Opinicon Road runs north-west from Division Street north of Kingston to Chaffeys Locks on the Rideau river. Even about noon today it was alive with song of newly arrived breeders including yellow-throated vireo 3, gnatcatcher 1, cerulean warbler 6, golden-winged 2, prairie warbler 1, black-and-white 30, bl.thr green 3, nashville 6, redstart 3, Louisiana waterthrush 1, northern waterthrush 12, ovenbird 4, scarlet tanager 3, rose-breasted grosbeaks 4, least and great crested flycatchers, kingbirds, woodthrush.

Hi Gord

This week has seen the large flocks of waterfowl on the St.Lawrence dissipate somewhat with the disappearance of the last vestiges of ice from the river. This morning at Chimney Island lookout, several hundred greater scaup, ring necked ducks and bufflehead were present. Several common goldeneye are still present, although the numbers are dwindling. great black backed , herring and ring billed gulls were loafing with several common mergansers, double crested cormorants and a few pairs of Canada geese. Most of the large flocks of geese have left the vicinity, with a major exodus on the 6th, when I saw at least 100 flocks heading NE up the St.Lawrence. One flock contained 35+ snow geese, and two other flocks had 6-10 snows in them. Also on the 6th I saw a greater yellowlegs and a single common raven at Poole's Resort. On the 9th Pooles Resort lookout area had three Bonaparte's gulls (2 imm and 1 adult) and a common loon (first I've seen on river this year)

As of this morning (13th) the Bonaparte's were still feeding along the shoreline at the Poole's resort lookout area, and several widgeon, gadwall and green winged teal were feeding nearby with mallards and Canada geese. A mixed flock of lesser scaup, ring necked ducks, widgeon and gadwall were feeding a kilometer west of Poole's beside the parkway. Closer to Gananoque, a large raft of scaup between the Landon Bay Park and Gordon Island yielded several more widgeon and at least a dozen canvasback, the first I've seen on the river this year. None of the large flocks further east have held any that I've been able to spot. Also near Landon Bay, David Vincent reports the ospreys are back at the nest platform in the creek west of the bay. The platform can be easily seen from Cross Cemetery Road, off the Thousand Island Parkway. Drive in past the small shack to the old barn foundation and look east from the road. The platform is nearly eye level, affording excellent viewing opportunities. Please remember not to disrupt the birds. They can be easily seen without leaving your vehicle.

On my farm, I have a mixed flock of green and blue winged teal, wood ducks and mallards, and a pair of hooded mergansers utilizing my pond, along with a few snipe. The hoodies appear to be taking up residence in one of my nest boxes. I also have a red tailed hawk finishing up her nest on the ridge south of my farm, and a kestrel has apparently chosen a nest hole in the large maple in my backyard. I also have several house finches, goldfinches, and mourning doves at my feeders, along with a pair of horned larks that have been here since February. I watched a cooper's hawk purse a mourning dove (unsuccessfully) and then switch to a red winged blackbird ( success) on the 9th near my house. The rough legged hawks that have been present all winter seem to have moved on.

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

A basic plumage Forster's tern was found by Ken Edwards Sat. 10th and has been hanging around the southern end of Belle Island in Kingston the last few days, usually sitting on rocks with gulls and caspian terns. Belle Is. is a small wooded island in the Cataraqui river. The entrance to the golf course on Belle Island is off Montreal Street. One can drive to the south shore along a dirt road to the right.

Forsters are less common here than in SW Ontario.

Paul Mackenzie.

Hi Gord,

This morning at the Narrows Locks causeway the three trumpeter swans were still present, although they left shortly after sunrise in the direction of Westport. Two male red breasted mergansers fished for perch at the Big Rideau lock entrance, and about twenty common mergansers patrolled the open water area ( the lakes are still mostly frozen) Before sunrise several groups of hooded mergansers were displaying, but most left (likely to explore the many nearby ponds) in pairs shortly after daybreak. Ring necked ducks (14) , Goldeneye (9) and bufflehead (7) groups were all engaged in courtship activity. About twenty Canada geese, half a dozen mallards and two pairs of wood ducks rounded out the waterfowl. Three pied billed grebes were fishing near the drop dam, two of which spent some time searching the small marshy area.

A piloted woodpecker drummed from the hillside north of the locks, and a raven was croaking somewhere in the bush along the Upper Rideau shore. Three ravens were flying around the area late yesterday afternoon, as well as two turkey vultures.

An eastern bluebird was singing at the start of the causeway this a.m., and before daylight both great horned and screech owls could be heard.

On the St. Lawrence River this afternoon, large rafts of scaup are still present, with many bufflehead, ring necked ducks, and common mergansers mixed in. The largest raft visible from shore is between Mallorytown Landing and the Chimney Island lookout. At Pooles Resort lookout area, 30 widgeon, 8 gadwall, 20 black duck, 4 pintail and several green-winged teal were feeding with a flock of mallards this afternoon. Goldeneye (15-20) bufflehead and. common merganser were visible farther out in the river. About fifty Canada geese were resting beside the parkway there as well. Ring billed, herring and great black backed gulls (6) were loafing on the ice, which is rapidly disappearing.

This evening at my farm, mallards, green and blue winged teal, wood duck, widgeon, hooded mergansers and Canada geese are feeding in my pond. Five hooded mergansers have been displaying every morning in the smaller pond beside my house (much more entertaining than cable) Just north of here, a pair of rough legged hawks (one light phase, the other a very dark bird) continue to hunt the fields south of Black Creek and along the Taylor road. Harriers are also present. At twilight this evening, goldeneyes are flying north over my farm, and snipe are winnowing.

Hi Gord,

The last few days have brought increasing numbers of waterfowl into the Thousand Islands. Tony Vanderscheer reported 20 white-winged scoters, about a dozen oldsquaw, many bufflehead, goldeneyes, over a thousand scaup, several widgeon, a redhead and several common merganser from the east end of Howe Island throughout the day today. Yesterday Scott Beckstead and I watched 20 + goldeneye and an equal number of bufflehead near Chimney Island east of Mallorytown Landing. A raft of several thousand scaup stretched from there back to the Townline Road. Several other smaller rafts and one large one ( at Gananoque Narrows) were seen between there and Gananoque. There is still a lot of ice in the more sheltered sections of the St.Lawrence, as witnessed by a trio of ice fishermen spotted a hundred yards off Gray's Beach.

At my farm, north of Gananoque, the ponds are still quite frozen (nearly a foot in most places), but where there is open water waterfowl are present. I had a pair of wood ducks investigating a house on my pond today. Pairs of Canada geese are attempting to investigate nesting areas (since last week) A red tailed hawk is refurbishing a nest it began last fall on the knoll south of my farm. North of here by Black Creek I saw 20 green winged teal, a few pairs of wood ducks and several blacks and mallards, and also my first two tree swallows of the year. Several killdeer are also making there presence known since the weekend. Two rough legged hawks and several harriers hunted near our farm this afternoon as well.

Along the Black Rapid Road, I found a pair of hooded mergansers investigating a cavity in a stump.

At the Narrows Lock, which divides the Upper and Big Rideau Lakes north of the hamlet of Crosby, the two adult trumpeter swans were still present and engaged in some serious courting displays. The sub-adult bird was also present, but I couldn't find the immature. The sub-adult was keeping his distance from the adult pair. There were also hooded and common mergansers, buffleheads, goldeneye, and mallards present. An otter presented itself briefly, feeding on a fish on the ice edge. A bald eagle (adult) flew across the Big Rideau while I was watching the swans. Not a bad stop.

Further on, near Westport, I saw two ravens, and several robins. A single adult swan ( species unknown) was sleeping on the edge of the breakwater in front of Westport on the Upper Rideau. There were also two hooded mergansers in the stream from the fisheries pond.

Hi Again,

Today (Wednesday Mar.10) The Gananoque Reporter published the results of a bald eagle roost survey for Hill Island (Ivy Lea) conducted at sunset on Sunday, Mar. 7. 17 bald eagles were spotted, 10 immatures and 7 adult birds.

Hi,

Just a note to say that yesterday (Monday 8) there were two bald eagles, an immature and an adult bird, at Fineview on Wellesley Island, which is just across the International Bridge from Ivy Lea ON. There was also an adult bald eagle at Alexandria Bay, approximately five miles east. An immature bird was seen flying over the river from Ivy Lea later that afternoon.

There were also many ring necked ducks, bufflehead and common goldeneye at Fineview. A few goldeneye, a pair of hooded mergansers, and a pair of bufflehead were at Ivy Lea, along with about a dozen common mergs. Two ravens were spotted this afternoon flying over Ash Island.

Hi Gordon:

Feb. 20/99, across the Thousand Islands Bridge east of Gananoque, on Coast Road, Fineview, Welesley Island, while having lunch in the car we observed an immature bald eagle land in a tree nearby, two mature bald eagles side-by-side in a tree on an island, four eagles flying over the St. Lawrence together and one or two in trees on an island further out in the river. On nearby Hill Island we didn't see the wild turkeys we've seen here in other years but we did see eight white-tailed deer. We had an exciting day and the total cost besides travel was the two dollar fee for crossing the international bridge. Returning to the outskirts of the city we found rafts of mallard, black ducks common merganser and american goldeneye in the Cataraqui River, and a faithful eastern screech owl on the way home.

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