No rarities to report this week. Raptors, waterfowl and “warm weather” species comprise the bulk of the reports below. For the first time this year NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWLS are being noted but only in remote parts of the Frontenac Arch north of the city. Winter finch numbers remain low. We’ve finally exceeded 100 species (plus two hydrids) in the Kingston Region so far in 2012. City of Kingston Cataraqui Bay and the Invista Lagoons has been host to low numbers of TUNDRA SWANS, GADWALL, AMERICAN BLACK DUCK, HOODED MERGANSER, COMMON MERGANSER and AMERICAN COOT. Large rafts of REDHEADS have been reported from both Cataraqui Bay and the Reddendale neighbourhood. A SNOWY OWL was on one of the piers and a NORTHERN SHRIKE was also seen nearby. A pair of adult BALD EAGLES has been patrolling the Lake Ontario shoreline near the Royal Military College. A MERLIN was at the Cataraqui Golf & Country Club. There was a NORTHERN SHRIKE along Gore Road and 2 RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS on nearby Laura Avenue. Amherst Island The most notable bird on the island this week was an EASTERN MEADOWLARK along Front Road west of Preston Cove. Also of particular interest was a NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD. Waterfowl included LONG-TAILED DUCK, COMMON GOLDENEYE and COMMON MERGANSER. Raptors: NORTHERN HARRIER, RED-TAILED HAWK, ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK, 1 AMERICAN KESTREL, 1 SNOWY OWL and 8 SHORT-EARED OWLS. Other species: 1 RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER, 1 NORTHERN SHRIKE, 2 GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS, 1 AMERICAN ROBIN, 14 CEDAR WAXWINGS and SNOW BUNTING. Bath and Area An AMERICAN KESTREL and a number of species of waterfowl including 10 TUNDRA SWANS were noted along Bath Road west of Amherstview. At the town of Bath itself, there was 1 TUNDRA SWAN, 1 REDHEAD and 12 GREATER SCAUP, among other species. An AMERICAN BLACK DUCK X MALLARD HYBRID was at the Lafarge Plant on Bath Road. Bedford Mills The FIELD SPARROW and RUSTY BLACKBIRD were still visiting a private feeder daily. They were joined by 2 male PURPLE FINCHES on the 20th and a male BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD on the 26th. BALD EAGLES can also be seen in and around Bedford Mills. Charleston Lake Area The largest contingent of TRUMPETER SWANS counted this week was the 32 at Outlet on Charleston Lake. An intermediate-phase ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK was near Dulcemaine and a light-phase was seen near Landsdown. There was 1 PINE SISKIN at Charleston Lake. Millhaven Millhaven was host to 7 TUNDRA SWANS, AMERICAN BLACK DUCK, LONG-TAILED DUCK, COMMON GOLDENEYE, RED-BREASTED MERGANSER and a NORTHERN HARRIER. A COOPER’S HAWK was at Finkle’s Shore Park west of Millhaven. Opinicon Road Up to 14 TRUMPETER SWANS have been at Chaffey’s Lock. Some NORTHERN PINTAILS appeared at Chaffey's Lock briefly yesterday afternoon. BALD EALGES continue to be frequently seen among the Rideau Lakes at white-tailed deer carcasses and near open water. Numerous people have asked about the eastern screech-owl reported last week at Queen’s University Biological Station (QUBS). It has not been seen or heard since the 21st but a NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL and a GREAT HORNED OWL were singing from separate islands in nearby Lake Opinicon on Wednesday night. A feeder in Chaffey’s Lock has been hosting an AMERICAN ROBIN, a RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD and the occasional PINE SISKIN. Not only did a SHARP-SHINNED HAWK visit that same yard but so did an adult NORTHERN GOSHAWK. BROWN CREEPERS continue to be seen at QUBS and at Elbow Lake Environmental Education Centre. There was an immature NORTHERN SHRIKE near the intersection of Chaffey's Lock Road and Highway 15. Wolfe Island Waterfowl on the island and along the ferry route included 2 CACKLING GEESE, MUTE SWAN, LONG-TAILED DUCK, COMMON GOLDENEYE and all three MERGANSERS. Raptors: BALD EAGLE, NORTHERN HARRIER, RED-TAILED HAWK, ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK, 1 AMERICAN KESTREL, up to 12 SNOWY OWLS and up to 10 SHORT-EARED OWLS. Other birds of note this week were a COMMON RAVEN and 8 HORNED LARKS. Other Sightings A COOPER’S HAWK, RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER and WINTER WREN were at a Cranberry Lake residence. There was another WINTER WREN at Perth Road Village. A NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL was singing at a backcountry campsite in Frontenac Provincial Park on the 21st. A TUFTED TITMOUSE was patronizing an Amherstview feeder. Eight PINE SISKINS joined the AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES at a Links Mills feeder. A NORTHERN SHRIKE was on North Shore Road (which is north of Inverary) and another was near Newburgh. Other Newburgh birds included 1 AMERICAN KESTREL and 1 RING-NECKED PHEASANT. An EASTERN SCREECH-OWL was singing on Howe Island. The YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER and RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER are still visiting an Elginburg feeder. Thank you to those who contributed observations this week. All bird sightings reported to me are included in the Kingston Field Naturalists’ long term records database which has over 60 years of observations on file and is an invaluable conservation resource. Mark -- Mark Andrew Conboy Operations & Research Assistant and Outreach Coordinator Queen’s University Biological Station 280 Queen's University Road Elgin, Ontario, Canada K0G 1E0 phone: 613-359-5629 fax: 613-359-6558 email: 7mc19@queensu.ca or mconboy@lakeheadu.ca QUBS website: http://www.queensu.ca/qubs/index.html QUBS blog: http://opinicon.wordpress.com/ QUBS flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/qubsoutreach/