Nature & Discovery.
Wolfe Island sits within a globally and continentally significant Important Bird Area (IBA) and is reached on the free 20-minute Wolfe Island ferry from the foot of Queen Street in downtown Kingston. Kingston Field Naturalists curates a regional birding-hotspot inventory anchoring the Wolfe Island IBA winter raptor concentration (snowy owls, rough-legged hawks, northern harrier, snow bunting, horned lark) alongside Howe Island, Little Cataraqui Creek, and Lemoine Point.
The brief.
KFN-listed hotspots span open island farmland (Wolfe Island, Howe Island), inland forest and marsh (Little Cataraqui Creek, ~13 km of CRCA-groomed trail with an observation tower at the outdoor centre), and Lake Ontario shoreline (Lemoine Point CA, 136 ha, 2,500 m of shore). Wolfe Island is best in winter for raptors and waterfowl (November through March) and during spring and fall migration; Little Cataraqui Creek and Lemoine Point are strong throughout spring and fall.
The Wolfe Island ferry leaves from the foot of Queen Street and is operated by the Province of Ontario — passengers and vehicles cross free, 20 minutes each way. Howe Island is reached by the Pitts Ferry on the east side.
Wolfe Island and Howe Island are both in the Township of Frontenac Islands rather than the City of Kingston, but the ferries and the KFN regional inventory are Kingston-anchored.
4. places.
- 01
Wolfe Island
KFN-listed premier winter birding site for snowy owls, rough-legged hawks, northern harrier, snow bunting, and horned lark; sits in a globally and continentally significant IBA; reached on the free Wolfe Island ferry from the foot of Queen Street.
- 02
Howe Island
KFN-listed birding hotspot east of Wolfe Island; viewing from roadsides, the Howe Island Trail, and shoreline by canoe or kayak; reached on the Pitts Ferry from Kingston.
- 03
Little Cataraqui Creek Conservation Area
KFN-listed forest birds and spring/fall migrants; observation tower at the CRCA outdoor centre.
- 04
Lemoine Point Conservation Area
KFN-listed Lake Ontario shoreline birding on 136 ha and 2,500 m of shoreline.
Today's read.
Cold but firm — winter-ready conditions · light winds · clean air.