Hello ONTBirders: I braved the cold weather in the Ste. Rose area, where I found one LAPLAND LONGSPUR, seven HORNED LARKS, and a minimum of 150+ SNOW BUNTINGS, mainly concentrated on Concession 20 east of the Ste. Rose intersection. One juvenile, darkly streaked SNOWY OWL was present near Concession 20 and Hwy 138. In Ottawa's west end the finches were plentiful, with 25 PINE SISKINS and two COMMON REDPOLLS (Southern flammea subspecies) in the NCC property near Hastings Road. I did not locate the NORTHERN HAWK-OWL, but I wasn't really looking for it either. I ran into Chris Traynor who also did not see it, but I left before he did so he may have located it afterwards. A small flock of WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS, about five in all, flew overhead while I was there. The feeding station on Hilda Road also hosted PINE SISKINS, which overpowered everything else there. There were at least 40+ with ones and twos joining the flock from elsewhere all the time. I also found four more COMMON REDPOLLS at the feeders, and as I was leaving another flock of 10 landing on one of the tall pines across the street. Both HAIRY and DOWNY WOODPECKERS were present, and one male WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH. Good birding! Pat DIRECTIONS: Ste. Rose - Take 417E to exit 58, turning left onto Highway 138. Take Concession 20 Road and watch the roadside. Please note: the fields are private property and "No Trespassing" signs are present on the premises. Please respect the landowners, as all birding can easily be done from the roadside. NCC Property - From Carling Avenue, turn onto Grandview Drive and follow to the end, turning left onto Hastings Road. Park on the side of the road - the entrance is well marked. Hilda Road Feeding Station - From Carling Avenue, turn onto Rifle Road and follow to the end, turning right onto Lois and then left onto Hilda Road. _________________________________________________________________ Show them the way! Add maps and directions to your party invites. http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowslive/events.aspx_______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS@hwcn.org For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
