[Ontbirds]Kingston Area: Snowy Owls, Tundra Swans

[Bruce Di Labio]

Hello everyone,

Today, Saturday, December 8, 2007, we birded Amherst and Wolfe Islands.

Very few raptors were observed on Amherst Island: one Red-tailed Hawk, one 
Rough-legged Hawk and one American Kestrel. The Owl Woods are closed due to 
hunting, so we birded just the east point of the KFN property. Highlights 
included 750+ Gadwall, 16 American Wigeon, 11 Northern Pintails (all males), 
and one Eastern Meadowlark.

The afternoon was spent birding Wolfe Island. Good numbers of raptors were 
observed west of 8th Line and included 42 Rough-legged Hawks, 5 Red-tailed 
Hawks, one Northern Harrier, 3 American Kestrel, 2 Snowy Owls and 2 Northern 
Shrikes. We were surprised to find a Rough-legged Hawk pecking at a deer 
carcass in a field while a coyote watched. Other birds of note: 392 American 
Coots, 133 Tundra Swans, 24 Redheads, 320 Snow Bunting and one Lapland 
Longspur.

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 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 now $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.

Wolfe Island: The ferry can be reach along the water front in
downtown Kingston.


Please read below.

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/ ."

Please Note: The Owl Wood's is closed for public safety
due to deer hunting from Nov 24 - Dec 9.


Bruce Di Labio
400 Donald B. Munro Drive
P.O.Box 538
Carp,Ontario,K0A 1L0
(613)839-4395 Home (613)715-2571 Cell

Di Labio Birding Website
Courses and Field Trips
http://www3.sympatico.ca/bruce.dilabio/