It pays to read the bird column in the saturday edition of the Ottawa
Citizen. I read with interest the report of a Great Gray Owl sighting in
the city of Limoges. However, no address was provided. A constructive
search on the internet and I was able to find the location of the reported
Great Gray Owl. Soon as the heavy snow let up on Saturday, Jan. 21, I
headed out to the location in Limoges. Braving slippery snow covered roads
I made my way to see the Great Gray Owl with visions of last winters owls
still relatively fresh in mind. When I arrived at the location I noticed
landscape similar to where some Great Gray owls had been seen last winter.
I also knew, based on last winters experience, that my best chance to see
the owl was likely around the hours near early morning and dusk. I waited
around and bit but no Great Gray owl was seen. My plan was to return early
the next day.
How does that phrase go now, about the 'best laid plan of mice and
men...going astray...well, in this case sleep was the culprit. Anyway,
the location of the Great Gray Owl was not too far from where the
Yellow-headed Blackbird had been coming to a feeder for a few weeks now so I
headed off to see if I could spot it again for a better photo and a closer
look. No Yellow-headed Blackbird but there was a variety of other
interesting species like a Coopers Hawk which had been patrolling the
neighbourhood and making the birds who came to the feeders at 23 Manitou
scatter for safety.
I mentioned the location of the Great Gray Owl to a few birders who were
there but some felt skeptical as to whether it was really a Great Gray Owl
that had been seen or most likely a Barred Owl which is sometimes mistaken
for a Great Gray. I can understand the skepticism because the sighting had
not been confirmed and no exact location of the sighting was given either.
However, I had a good feeling about "this" Great Gray Owl report.
It was bright and sunny with little to no wind, a great day to be outside.
Quite the change from only a day ago and much easier on the body than the
bone chilling -27*C the last time I was here. The Yellow-headed Blackbird
still hadn't made an appearance so Tony and a few other birders in his group
took up my offer to show him the location of the reported Great Gray Owl. I
was curious as anyone else to see if a Great Gray owl was actually in the
area. With Tony's help we were finally able to see what we had come looking
for. Tony spotted the Great Gray Owl amongst the trees and pointed it out
to us. A familiar face stared out at us from the woods. It's one thing to
know the location but quite another thing to actually find the owl and what
better person to have helping you look for a particular bird than an expert
birder like Tony Beck. I can also understand why his bird outings are
popular because he has a natural enthusiasm for his subject and generously
shares knowledge about the various species encountered along the way and he
does all this in a casual and friendly manner.
After getting our fill of the Great Gray Owl we headed back to see if the
Yellow-headed Blackbird had come by the feeder at 23 Manitou. Not only was
it there but it spent quite some time perched high up a tree near the
driveway at 23 Manitou along with some other birds. Talk about great
timing. Let me tell you, it is much easier to hold a camera still to take a
photo in -5* C than in -27*C windchill. I ran into another birder who had
come to see the Yellow-headed Blackbird and we met up later at the Great
Gray Owl location. We both kept watch and around 4:10pm I spotted what
looked like an owl fly across the road from the property at 1576 Route 300.
I drove up to take a look and sure enough a Great Gray owl was perched on a
property across the road from 1576. Not long after that it flew into an
open field and perched on a branch directly across from 1576. It looks like
an open field and some snowmobile tracks were visible. It was perched there
for quite some time allowing a good long look. Just like the Great Grays
encountered last winter in the Ottawa area this one was not shy at all. As
the lady who resides at 1576 Route 300 mentioned earlier, the Great Gray owl
has been spotted perched on poles along the road near the property in the
early morning and later in the day.
I have also included a link to some images taken today.
Great Gray Owl on property of #1576.
http://www.pbase.com/golfpic/image/55179695
Great Gray Owl in field across from #1576.
http://www.pbase.com/golfpic/image/55179867
http://www.pbase.com/golfpic/image/55180980
Coopers Hawk near 23 Manitou
http://www.pbase.com/golfpic/image/55181684
Yellow-headed Blackbird at 23 Manitou
Good shot from underneath (notice the white spec...)
http://www.pbase.com/golfpic/image/55180983
http://www.pbase.com/golfpic/image/55180981
http://www.pbase.com/golfpic/image/55180982
W.H.
Ottawa, Ontario.
