Hi Everyone Just back from a weekend of birding various areas in eastern Ontario. The Snowy Owl continues to be found through most of the region in suitable habitat. Today on Wolfe Island we counted 13 Snowy Owls all on the west side of the island. All individuals appeared to be juvenile birds and very nervous. Most individuals flushed easily. Though the winds were out of the southwest at 30-35 km's with blowing snow most birds were perched on telephone poles, farm buildings and a few on the ground. Also saw 650+ Snow Buntings and a couple of Horned Lark. There was no open water except for the ice choked ferry channel. Most side roads had numerous snow drifts. On Saturday out in the Ste. Rose area there were 10+ Snowy Owls including a very tame individual that didn't flush even with 20+ photographers around it. This is likely one of the regularly baited Snowy Owls. In the Chesterville area another 5+ Snowy Owls were observed. It appears that many of these owls have set up a winter territory sin ce they were using the same perches back on December 28th. At the DuPont Plant's warm water lagoon there were 2 Mute Swan, 40+ Gadwall, 1 male Ring-necked Duck, and 8 American Coot. If you're still looking for Snowy Owls check your local airport! While leading a birding tour in Newfoundland and not seeing any, I finally got my Snowy Owl for NL while taxiing down the runway. When we landed home 3 were present!
Good birding, Bruce Directions: If you require additional information please email me privately. Di Labio Birding Website Courses and Field Trips http://www.dilabiobirding.ca http://www.brucedilabio.blogspot.com Bruce Di Labio 400 Donald B. Munro Drive P.O. Box 538 Carp, Ontario K0A 1L0 Office 613-839-4395 Cell 613-715-2571 _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca For information about ONTBIRDS including how to unsubscribe visit http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdssetup
