[Ontbirds]Kingston area birds to Dec. 21, 2007

[Peter and Jane Good]

The cancellation of the Kingston Christmas count last Sunday was a
disappointment to many and certainly had an impact on the number of birds
reported this week. No one seems to be looking at waterfowl; the only duck
mentioned was a male Hooded Merganser at the Millhaven ferry dock last
Saturday. Raptors, on the other hand, always seem to grab people's
attention. There were Bald Eagles at Bath and Verona on the 19th and 20th
respectively,a Sharp-shinned Hawk at Bedford Mills on the 14th and 15th and
a Cooper's Hawk on Collingwood Street yesterday. Single Barred Owls were
seen on Amherst, Dec.15th, and at Bedford Mills, Dec.20th. There was also a
Short-eared on Amherst on the 15th.
Northern Shrikes were reported from Gananoque, Dec. 15th, and Camden East,
Dec.18th. A Common Grackle was seen in Enterprise on the 20th, but the one
that has been regular at Camden East since Nov.16th has not reappeared since
the storm. Other sightings of note: 4 Robins and 7 Lapland Longspurs on
Wolfe Island, Dec.15th, 50 Wild Turkeys at Enterprise, yesterday, and in the
woodpecker department; a Pileated at Bath on the 18th and 2 Red-bellied, one
a regular at a feeder near Gananoque and the other a new  yard bird for a
feeder north of Bath yesterday. A flock of 200 Snow Buntings at Harrowsmith,
also seen yesterday, was a bit out of the ordinary.
The winter finch population seems to have stabilized. Most people feeding
niger seed have large flocks of Common Redpolls and  three local feeders
reported Hoary Redpolls this week. Pine Siskins have pretty much moved on,
only 2 in Bath on the 18th. Pine Grosbeaks are still around; one at Bedford
Mills on the 17th and 8 more in Verona Yesterday. The only Evening Grosbeaks
were a half dozen at Bedford Mills seen on Saturday and Monday.
The Amherst Island Christmas Count is a week today (compiler Janet Scott 613
389-4608) and we are all optimistic that the weather will cooperate. I'll
skip next week's report and come back in the New Year.

Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year,
Peter Good
Kingston Field Naturalists
613 378-6605