Owl Prowl

Today was a beautiful afternoon and evening.  Clear and calm.  Highly unusual for late Friday!
After work, I headed upriver as far as Courtright.  Of course there was not much to see on the river, par for the course this winter.  More ducks have been showing up (mainly Redhead). Yesterday there were quite a few on the Snye for a change, among other ducks and waterfowl.

On the way, I swung by the Sombra solar farm, as I planned to check the spot later for Short-eared Owls.  Sean Jenniskens was already waiting, but it was too early.  I continued up to Courtright.

Cathcart Park is usually one of the premier spots for seeing waterfowl in the winter, but there has not been much this year.

A wintering Bald Eagle was perched in a tree to the north, but a bit too far for a photo.
I drove some backroads seeing some usual birds, then stopped at Cundick Park for a few minutes before heading to the solar farm.  Sometimes there are waterfowl here at Stoke's Point.

Upon arrival at the Sombra solar farm, the sun was setting.

Sunset over Sombra

I only had to wait about five minute before two of the Short-eared Owls appeared in the distance.

The owls usually spend some time here each winter as it is a good place for mice and voles.  Northern Harriers are also a common sight here, but I did not see any today.
The owls do not get up until at least 5:30, so if you arrive before that, some patience is required.  We think they roost under the solar panels.


As it was a nice calm evening, I headed over to McKeough CA at Duthill.

Duthill Bridge

Right away I heard two Great Horned Owls hooting away.  One was visible.

I also heard a Long-eared Owl in the distance, but did not see it.  The Long-eared often spend some time here as there are some nice spruce trees to roost in.

Tomorrow morning will be spent in Steve Charbonneau territory.  Probably under sunny skies!  Wow!

Day of the Owls

Well, Christmas came a day early.  There may be very few passerines around, but owls have arrived en masse.
With the announcement late yesterday of a Great Gray Owl near Kingsville in Essex County, a birder could not pass this one up.
I headed down this morning arriving about 08:45 (just could not get up too early!).  Actually I was about to turn onto McCain Rd. to look in the last reported location of the owl, but I saw a number of vehicles ahead on Rd. 2.  Undoubtedly this was where the subject owl was perched.

Upon arrival I saw several familiar faces, and the face of a Great Gray Owl.  It was some distance into the meadow, but patience paid off and it came right to the road.  As is often the case with these denizens of the north, they are somewhat fearless of humans.














Barb Charlton was there because she actually need this one for her big year list!  I forgot to ask her what she was at but I think it is around 321.

After looking at this for a while, I headed down McCain Rd. where a Snowy Owl was seen, then to the Pelee Onion Fields.  Two Snowy Owls so far!

Near Hillman Marsh was the first of four Bald Eagles I saw today.

On the way to Erieau, I sighted a Northern Mockingbird on a wire near Port Alma.

Northern Mockingbird

At Erieau, I found three Snowy Owls on the rocks.  I think there were five on Sunday.  All heavily-barred individuals.  A Double-crested Cormorant was still hanging around on the rocks.
Snowy Owl blobs:

I walked the R/R track trail and not surprisingly, no small birds.  On the way out I sighted a Great Horned Owl along the shoreline in a willow.  Another "great" owl.

Thinking there had to be some Snowy Owls near Grande Pointe, I swung around by that way and spotted two north of the village in a usual spot near Marsh Line.  Much too far for photos.

Still not done, I took back roads to Wallaceburg SW of town and sighted yet another Snowy Owl.  Very distant, but this one will hopefully be found on Tuesday for our CBC.  Way too far away for a photo!
So, an eight Snowy day--most I have seen in one single day!
I heard there was another Snowy Owl just outside town, so I went for that too!  Chalk up nine.

On more thing.  I headed over to Stewart Line and was delighted to find two Sandhill Cranes. None had been sighted since Josh Bouman's report of 30 last Sunday.  Another species required for Tuesday.

Maybe I should look for Short-eared Owls in a couple of hours......