A Birding Site Guide to Amherst and Wolfe Islands by Paul Mackenzie and Ron D
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30 A Birding Site Guide to Amherst and Wolfe Islands by Paul MacKenzie and Ron D. Weir Amherst and Wolfe Islands lie in vole population is high and, as of the eastern end of Lake Ontario, early winter, there have been large near Kingston. Birding is good numbers of Rough-legged Hawks, year-round, especially during the harriers and at least two Boreal winter for hawks and owls, and Owls, as well as Long-eared, during spring and fall for migration Short-eared, Great Horned, of waterfowl and shorebirds. Both Northern Saw-whet, Snowy and islands consist of relatively flat Northern Hawk-Owl. farming country mixed with From Highway 401, take woodlots and surrounded by rocky Highway 133 south about 10 kIn shorelines, gravel beaches and to Highway 33 at Millhaven. Tum cattail marshes. They are right and the ferry dock is about accessible by public ferry, but a 0.3 kIn west along the Lake motor vehicle is essential for Ontario side of Highway 33. The birding the side roads as there is ferry leaves the nlainland hourly no public transport. Property is on the half hour, but the first one private and entry is by permission leaves at 0620 h, then 0730 h, etc. of the landowners, but much It costs $1.50 for car and driver birding can be done from the side plus 25 ¢ per passenger and carries roads and shorelines. Although it about 16 cars, so it is best to arrive is possible to visit both islands in a early. The ferry returns hourly, day, there is plenty of scope for a leaving Amherst I. at Stella on the full day's birding on either island. hour until late evening. It operates all winter. From the upper deck, Amherst Island loons and gulls may be seen when This island became renowned the water is open, and occasionally during the winter of 1978-79 when Snowy Owls sit on the ice in a build up of the meadow vole winter. In the last half of May, population attracted large numbers impressive flocks of Brant may be of owls, including 30+ Great seen to the east of the ferry route. Grays, as well as Northern Hawk For shorebirds and other Owl, Boreal Owl and Snowy waterfowl during migration, the Owls. Once again, in 1984,. the most productive area is usually the Paul Mackenzie, Box 84, R.R. # 1, Kingston, Ontario K7L 4Vl Ron D. Weir, 295 Elmwood Street, Kingston, Ontario K7M 2Y8 ONTARIO BIRDS APRIL 1984 31 sand bar at the east end of the and Red Knot are possible. A island. From the ferry, turn left at number of uncommon birds have the first road along the north shore appeared here including: Snowy, and follow it to the east end of the Cattle and Great Egrets, island. At the northeast corner, Franklin's Gull, Little Gull, Piping stop just before the road turns Plover, Baird's Sandpiper, south and scan the water for ducks Hudsonian Godwit, Buff-breasted in the bay. Drive to the southeast Sandpiper (August), Purple corner and park, watching along Sandpiper (November), Eurasian the way for Upland Sandpipers Wigeon, Harlequin Duck and and hawks, or in winter for Snowy Barrow's Goldeneye. Owls. From the southeast corner The most likely location for allow at least one hour to walk to Northern Saw-whet, Long-eared the bar and back, keeping within and rarely Boreal Owls is a small sight of shore. There is a marshy woods in the east half of the island area at the east end of the island (see map). where Wilson's Phalaropes nest, From the ferry, turn left along and in late May, Brant may be the north shore for about 3 kIn resting along the shore. Oldsquaw watching for a road on the right. It are frequent offshore in spring and is not ploughed in winter. This fall, and puddle ducks, waders and road, illustrated on the map, Black-crowned Night-Herons are has a small jog in it about midway often flushed from the marsh. across. If the road is open, park The bar itself may be exposed just north of this jog and enter the depending on water levels, and is a woods on the east side of the road. usual loafing site for gulls, terns, If the road is impassable by car, cormorants and shorebirds in the 1 kIn walk from the main road season. In late May, WhiInbrel takes 10-15 nlinutes. (In spring Amherst Island Ferry ",, ,, " Stella ...... N 1 ~ {) Woods VOLUME 2 NUMBER 1 32 and summer listen along this road fields which are favourites for and the road at the east end for Rough-legged Hawks in winter, singing Henslow's and Grass and sometimes have plovers in hopper Sparrows, best heard at season. Further south, there is a dawn and dusk). wet wooded area which attracts Proceed east through the middle spring and fall migrants, and of the woods to find a track or path sometimes Rusty Blackbirds. which leads by a few single junipers and, further east, by Wolfe Island several clumps of cedars. Each Wolfe Island is probably the most evergreen tree requires careful reliable place in southern Ontario, inspection to locate the small owls, perhaps anywhere, to see Snowy if they are present. Owls in winter. Numbers may vary Long-eared, Barred or Great depending on food supply. It is a Horned Owls may be flushed haven for wintering Rough-legged along the way. The open fields Hawks, Snow Buntings and some adjacent to the woods may have Lapland Longspurs. There are Short-eared (best seen in late several local coveys of Gray afternoon) or Snowy Owls. Partridge. In spring and fall, large The other woodlots on the island numbers of waterfowl are seen in are also worth exploring for owls if migration, with thousands of the vole population is high as Greater Scaup in the bays and evidenced by multiple tunnels in Canada Geese in the corn fields. grass and snow. Much of the land is posted and The s~outh shore road follows the most birding is done by driving the lake closely from the southeast side roads. The roads in the west comer to Long Point. Loons, half ofthe island (west of Bayfield scoters, ducks and shorebirds may Bay) are the most productive. be seen from the road. There is a From Highway 401, exit productive marsh (Eves' marsh) Highway 15 south to Highway 2 about 2 km west ofthe north-south (5 km) then tum west (right) road from Stella, on the way to across the Cataraqui River bridge Long Point, and another marsh at into Kingston (1 km). The Wolfe the base of Long Point itself. The Island ferry leaves from the dock overgrown area beside the marsh in downtown Kingston one block at the base of Long Point may be east of the foot of Princess Street, good for warblers in migration. opposite the police headquarters. Sora and Virginia Rails nest in The ferry is free and has a large these marshes in season. capacity for cars but in summer the The north-south side road queue may be long so it is best to through Emerald passes through a arrive early. From the bow or upper variety of habitats. Starting from deck scan the water for loons, bay Emerald, there is a field overgrown ducks, and gulls, and in winter for with junipers on the west, and Snowy Owls on the ice. further south, a small marshy area Take Highway 95, the paved on the east. After the "4 corners" highway south across the island, the road slopes down into open stopping periodically to scan the ONTARIO BIRDS APRIL 1984 33 Wolfe Island St. Lawrence River Ferry Cemetery Woods open fields. About 6 km south of fields are frequented by Snowy Marysville the road crosses a Owls, hawks, Lapland Longspurs marshy area which often has teal, and Snow Buntings. Return to pintail and shoveler in spring. At Marysville along the north shore about 9 km this road curves east road looking for waterfowl. and provides a view on the left The sideroads leading east off over a marsh and the end of Button Highway 95 to the 7th, 8th and Bay. Stop and scan Button Bay for 9th concessions to Bayfield Bay waterfowl. The road then enters a and Button Bay are worth checking woodlot, called the Cemetery in winter for Snowy Owls and Woods, which harbours Eastern hawks. Screech and Great Horned Owls, There is no single location and migrant passerines in season. where Gray Partridge can always Highway 95 ends (about 12 km be found. Sightings are most from Marysville) at Home's Ferry, frequently maae along the roads a good place from which to scan north of the Reed Bay Road on for ducks and gulls along the Great both sides of Highway 95 and Lakes shipping channel. north of Highway 96 from Brown's Returning from Horne's Ferry, Bay to Dawson Pt. go straight ahead onto the south shore sideroad which begins where APPEAL FOR SUBMISSION Highway 95 turns north to OF RECORDS Marysville. The fields here are Visitors birding Amherst I., Wolfe good for ducks and geese. Take the I. and the Kingston area are next sideroad north, working requested to submit their list of around to Reed's Bay for ducks sightings for the files of the and shorebirds. Continue driving Kingston FieldNaturalists, the sideroads along the northwest P.O. Box 831, Kingston, comer ofthe island where open Ontario, K7L 4X6. VOLUME 2 NUMBER 1.