Snowy Owls are continuing to be seen along Ravenshoe Road in southwest Keswick.
Keith Dunn had two on Monday afternoon: one of them on top of the orange barn
near the west end of Ravenshoe Rd. and another on the west side of Yonge Street
near the white trailer about a km south of Ravenshoe. There are at least three
Snowies wintering in this area but they do not always sit right out in the open
(though you may luck into a conspicuously perched bird from time to time).
Birders who bring spotting scopes and some patience have a higher chance of
seeing them.
Snow Buntings are being observed regularly along Ravenshoe Rd., though often
in smaller groups. West of Newmarket a large flock (approx. 100 birds) has
shown up sporadically on the south side of Hwy. 9 at the horse ranch between
Jane Street and Hwy. 400, especially when there is fresh hay and manure in the
field. Note, however, that this latter location is NOT the safest of places to
stop since traffic is almost always busy along Hwy. 9. By turning north on
Jane Street and driving toward the T-intersection at Woodchopper's Lane it of
often possible to find smaller groups of Snow Buntings in the fields in a
safer, more leisurely fashion. Horned Larks have not shown up yet in this area
but should be returning soon to give their tinkly spring vocalizations.
Something to watch and listen for - They are usually the first "spring"
arrivals.
Northern Shrikes have established winter hunting territories in several
places across the region. Regular sightings (i.e. birds occurring for at least
3 weeks in the same location) of "local" individuals are being made at Phyllis
Rawlinson Park on Leslie Street in northeast Richmond Hill, Bond Lake Arena in
Oak Ridges, Tornado Drive in the Bradford Marsh, and George Richardson Park in
northeast Newmarket. This has been a good winter for Northern Shrike with many
other observations being made across York Region.
Pine Grosbeaks continue to show up in many locations, especially in yards and
parks with fruit-bearing trees. A pair of Bohemian Waxwings has been
travelling with a flock of Cedar Waxwings for at least a week in the general
vicinity of Major McKenzie Drive and Islington Avenue in Kleinburg. A much
larger flock seems to come and go randomly in Keswick.
This morning I observed three Trumpeter Swans flying west across Bathurst
Street in Aurora, likely individuals from around Harry Lumsden's pond just
north of Wellington Road.
Harry has been actively involved in the tagging and reintroduction of
Trumpeters to this area for many years.
Ron Fleming, Newmarket
York Region is directly north of Toronto and south of Lake Simcoe.
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