Bird Watching

The eastern stretch between Stella and Lower 40 Foot Road is the most productive section for birding. Water views across Stella Bay, Preston Cove, and the North Channel turn up good numbers of water birds through migration and winter. The open fields along the south side offer broad sightlines for Rough-legged Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Northern Harrier, Snowy Owl, and Short-eared Owl, whether in flight over the fields or perched on fence posts and in trees.

The KFN’s 100-hectare conservation reserve at the island’s eastern tip holds breeding grassland birds, Osprey, Purple Martin, and Wilson’s Phalarope. The shoreline, pond, and spit are reliable for waterfowl and shorebirds during migration, and the ponds are a good place to find Black-crowned Night-Heron. The spit also offers the best view of the Double-crested Cormorant colony on the Brothers Islands, and Great Egret roost and nest among them. Winter brings Snowy Owls, Rough-legged Hawks, and Short-eared Owls. Over the years, the property has turned up an impressive list of rare species, including American White Pelican, Tricolored Heron, Glossy Ibis, Piping Plover, American Avocet, Marbled Godwit, Arctic Tern, and Smith’s Longspur, among others. It is worth careful attention at any time of year.

Access Note: You must be a member of the Kingston Field Naturalists or visit with a member to access this property.

Few places in Ontario offer as reliable a look at Northern Saw-whet Owl and Long-eared Owl as the Owl Woods, and both species turn up most winters. Barred Owl and Great Horned Owl are resident nearby, and in some years, Boreal Owl can be found here too. The thick jack pines and shrubbery support a good variety of winter birds as well as lingering warm-weather species like Hermit Thrush and White-throated Sparrow. The feeders attract Red-bellied Woodpecker, Red-breasted Nuthatch, and others, and warblers and sparrows move through in good numbers during migration. 

Access Note: The Owl Woods are private property. No dogs are permitted, and disturbance to the owls or their habitat will not be tolerated.

In colder winters, the south shore may hold the only open water visible from the island, drawing large concentrations of Greater Scaup, Redhead, Long-tailed Duck, Common Goldeneye, Bufflehead, and mergansers. Common Loon, Red-necked Grebe, and Horned Grebe are also regular here. The vast open water occasionally gives a patient observer the chance to pick out a jaeger or other seabird.

A birding loop west on 2nd Concession Road from Stella 40 Foot Road passes open pastures where Rough-legged Hawk, American Kestrel, Red-tailed Hawk, Northern Harrier, and Short-eared Owl are frequently seen in flight or perched on fence posts and in trees. Snowy Owls appear in winter. In late spring and early summer, the same road turns up Eastern Meadowlark, Eastern Kingbird, Savannah Sparrow, and Bobolink, with smaller numbers of Eastern Bluebird, Grasshopper Sparrow, and Upland Sandpiper.

Turning south on Emerald 40 Foot Road leads through open pastures and then into a stretch of mature woodland running about 2 km on both sides of the road. During migration, these woods are an important stopover for warblers, vireos, flycatchers, and sparrows. In winter, look for Barred Owl and Pileated Woodpecker, and during the breeding season, the area supports Red-bellied Woodpecker, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Pileated Woodpecker, and Veery, with a notable Rusty Blackbird record from 2012.

Turning onto 3rd Concession Road offers water views of Amherst Bay and Nut Island, with good numbers of water birds through migration and winter. Further along, a large marsh on the south side holds herons, bitterns, Marsh Wren, and Swamp Sparrow, and serves as an important roosting site for swallows and blackbirds during fall migration. The open fields beyond provide broad views of the island’s southwestern interior, where Snow Buntings and Lapland Longspurs can be found in winter.

The ferry ride can provide views of water birds, including Common Loon and numerous species of ducks. When the North Channel freezes over, the strip of open water created by the ferry attracts gulls and waterfowl as well as predators. Occasionally, a Snowy Owl can be spotted on the ice during a winter crossing.