Awesome Amherst Island

It was Authentic Canadian Tours pleasure to visit Amherst Island for our second time this year. Amherst Island is located near Kingston, Ontario. Arriving on the island is like stepping back fifty years into the past to simpler times in this close knit community. During our visit to Amherst Island we had many activities planned including a visit to the local museum, the community radio station, a horse drawn wagon ride and a visit to the world renowned Owl Woods Private Nature Reserve. So I hope you enjoy the blog of our highlights during our visit.

                          Please click on the pictures for a larger image.

View of Amherst Island from Ferry

                                                                                     

Amherst Island is located across from Millhaven, Ontario and the only way to get there is by ferry.

The Frontenac 2

                                                                                   

When we first arrived on Amherst Island our first stop was the Neilson Store Museum and Cultural Centre in downtown Stella. The Museum is not open during the winter months, but they were so kind to open it up for our visit. Also located in the Museum is the Weasel and the Easel which sells island produced products, including wool products and works of art including beautiful photographs and paintings. We very much enjoyed our visit to the Museum and learned some of the history of the island. I want to thank Dayle Gowan, Bruce Burnett and Andrea Cross for making this possible.

Amherst Island Museum

                                                                                 

 We then headed over to Amherst Island`s public radio station CJAI 92.1 FM.

                                                                                

                                                                                  

Terry Culbert and Dayle Gowan greeted us at the radio station. You couldn't meet two nicer gentlemen. Dayle and Terry are a lot of fun and have great stories. This is not your average radio station. For one, it is located in the barn on a farm. This is truly a community run radio station that is staffed by volunteers. They have an eclectic mix of shows which is a mix of talk and music. From the Udder Morning Show to the Bluegrass from the Barn Show. There is always something interesting going on. I highly recommend checking it out.

Here's the link to the station. www.cjai.ca

 

After our visit to the radio station we headed over to the Sandy Bay Bed and Breakfast and were greeted by Garry and Susan and their dog Bob. They have two magnificent Percheron Horses that were going to be pulling the wagon.

Sky and Jill

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We all climbed aboard the wagon for our ride. 

                                                                                    

                                                                                  

It has been a long time for most of us since we last went on a wagon ride. Garry took us for a 45 minute ride down some of the backroads that most visitors to Amherst Island never get to go down. It was a chilly, but most enjoyable ride. We got to go along the lakeshore and there were some Tundra Swans in the bay. They were a bit tough to see as it was windy and they had themselves tucked up quite close to the shore. They said in the last few days, hundreds of the Tundra Swans were beginning to show up.

It was chilly but fun

                                                                                  

Sometimes the most unexpected things bring you joy. As we were going down the road in the wagon, we approached a farm where two horses were in a field. It was mesmerising as the horses became quite excited by our presence. Really I think they were excited by the sight of Sky & Jill. They started galloping all over the place and then came up to the fence to see us. It was quite an exhilarating sight. It brought many smiles to our faces.

It was a magical moment

                                                                                  

Next on the tour and the reason that many people visit Amherst Island during the winter is the chance to go into the Owl Woods Private Nature Reserve. Owl Woods was first discovered as a large wintering grounds for Owls back in the 1970's. The land is privately owned but the landowners graciously allow birders to enter the property for the opportunity to see Owls in the wild.

It is very important that the Owls are treated with great respect. At the entrance to Owl Woods is a sign that spells out the rules to Owl Woods. It is very important that these rules are followed so that Owl Woods will stay open to the public. There was consideration of closing the woods due to some disrespectful behaviour in recent years. If your visiting, please follow these simple rules so we can enjoy Owl Woods for many years to come. 

                                                                                
                                                                                  

Upon arriving at Owl Woods we were greeted by Janet Scott and her friend Bonnie. Janet is known as the Bird Lady of Amherst Island. She also hosts a segment on birding every Monday morning during the Udder Morning Show. Another great reason to listen to CJAI FM 92.1.

Janet is a lovely lady and an excellent birder and knows all the hot spots on the island and in Owl Woods. When Janet met us at the bus she had a small bag of birdseed for everyone. The Black-capped Chickadees along the trail are always willing to land and feed right out of your hands. It is a very fun experience and always brings many smiles and oohs and ahhs.

                                                                                    

Black-capped Chickadee

                                                                                  

It didn`t take long to find our first Owl. Amanda a young biology student with sharp eyes spotted a Saw-whet Owl sitting in a spruce tree. I have said it before, and I will say it again, there is probably not a cuter bird than a Saw-whet Owl. This tiny little Owl actually brought tears to Angie`s eyes. She was overcome with emotion upon seeing her first wild Saw-whet Owl. It was a very touching moment.

Precious

After a short visit with this precious little creature, we moved on to look for more Owls. While walking through the woods we encountered many Chickadees and Golden-crowned Kinglets flitting about the woods. After searching for awhile longer, the group spotted a Short-eared Owl. An increasingly rare bird in Ontario due to habitat decline, so it was a big thrill to see this lovely Owl.

We then headed into the pine plantation part of Owl Woods where quite often you can find Long-eared Owls roosting. We were not having much luck until once again Amanda`s amazing Owl spotting skills came to the forefront again. (Thanks Amanda!) It was a Long-eared Owl. They are quite an interesting Owl. It`s a fairly large Owl with large tufts and the most penetrating stare you might ever see. It has amazing camouflage and looked like a branch in the trees. I don`t know how Amanda spotted it. Jen, a wonderful photographer, was able to get a picture of this beautiful Owl through the branches. (Thanks Jen!)



Check out those ear tufts and eyes

So our walk through Owl Woods was a great success. It was a thrill for the group to see three species of Owls during our walk through Owl Woods.

So in closing I would like to thank Steve, Penny, Rob, Angie, Christine, Heather, Sheila, Judy, Amanda and Jen for such a fantastic day on Amherst Island. It`s just not all the memorable things that we saw and did, but also the people that make for such an enjoyable day.

I also want to thank Dayle, Terry, Bruce, Andrea, Garry, Susan, Bonnie and Janet for making us all feel so welcome on Amherst Island. It was a wonderful adventure.

We can`t wait to go back. Our next tour tour to Amherst Island is coming up on January 7, 2012.

So book your seat soon, so you don`t miss out on this Authentic Canadian Tour.
Please visit our website to book your tour.

www.authenticcanadiantours.ca