I apologize for having just sent an old GGOW report to this website. I hit the
SEND button instead of the DELETE button as I was "cleaning up" my files.
Brain cramp.
Ron Fleming
From [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sat Mar 12 11:29:47 2005
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Sat, 12 Mar 2005 11:35:16 EST
Date: Sat, 12 Mar 2005 11:35:16 -0500 (EST)
From: RON FLEMING <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
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Subject: [Ontbirds]
Snowy & Great Gray Owls, Red-shouldered & Cooper's Hawks - York
Region
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Capitals used below are for quick reference, not dramatic effect.
There are still several GREAT GRAY OWLS lingering in York Region. Sightings of
6 and 5 by David Atkins and Keith Dunn, respectively, were made in the last
week and I observed four birds this morning (Saturday, March 12). Two were on
the 2nd Concession just south of Queensville Sdrd. in east Holland Landing, one
on the south side of Bradford Street near the Beaver gas station in southeast
Bradford, and another was hunting from the fenceline on the west side of
Dufferin Street about 1.5 km north of Hwy. 9 on the western outskirts of
Newmarket. This latter area is just past Miller Sdrd., where the road takes a
dip.
I finally got around to checking on the SNOWY OWL that has been observed on
several occasions in south Keswick by Keith Dunn, Gene Denzel and several
others and, sure enough, the bird was on "drive-thru" display near the western
end of Ravenshoe Road about 2 kms west of Leslie Street. Looking for all the
world like a large white-morph Rock Pigeon, the bird was perched conspicuously
atop the television antenna at house #479 on the south side of Ravenshoe Road.
Keith Dunn, who lives in the area, has seen it at this location a few times, so
it is the first place one should check.
Driving back toward Leslie Street I observed a COOPER'S HAWK flying west to the
woodlot on the south side of Ravenshoe Rd. that separates the residential area
from the agricultural flats.
I did not see the GGOW that Keith has observed on several occasions near the
east end of the baseball diamonds on the north side of the road.
Back in Holland Landing, I checked the northern end of Yonge Street near Silver
Lakes golf course, as this can be a good area for raptors, but only found two
sleeping racoons and a bemused porcupine looking down at me from a tree at the
dead end of the road.
There were numerous HORNED LARKS giving their tinkly call in the agricultural
flats of the "Holland Marsh" area south of Bradford, but I could not find the
Snowy Owl that has wintered there since January (I have seen it 3 times out of
about 20 attempts - not a high percentage of success). At the south end of Day
Street, which runs south from Canal Road, I had a pair of AMERICAN KESTRELS
that appear to be year-long residents, as I have seen them here on several
occasions.
Checking once again for GGOWs along Dufferin Street on my way back home to
south Newmarket, I instead watched - and listened to - a very vocal RED-TAILED
HAWK flying southwest into the hydro cut, seemingly announcing territory.
Moments later, as I wandered east along a small footpath on the east side of
the road (a sign announces No Motorized Vehicles by the roadside), I watched a
buteo flying very low in a northeasterly direction through the small woodlot
there. I assumed it would be the red-tail mentioned above or its mate, but
when I got my binoculars on the bird I was pleasantly surprised to see that it
was an adult RED-SHOULDERED HAWK sporting very orange chest bars as it passed
by.
I had hoped to find my first Red-winged Blackbirds of the spring but didn't
turn up any. Anyone who has seen some already in York region, let me know
(privately) so I can write down the date. They are later arriving this year.
Redwings aside, it was very nice raptor morning!
Ron Fleming, Newmarket
DIRECTIONS: Holland Landing is just north of Newmarket, which, in turn, is
halfway
between Toronto and Barrie between Hwys. 400 and 404. 2nd Concession is
actually the northern extension of Main Street out of Newmarket; it changes its
name when it crosses Green Lane. There are at least two GGOWs that roost
somewhere in the woodlot on the east side of the road (private property); they
come out to sit on the phonelines at the forest edge around sunrise then
generally cross the road and hunt in the fields on the west side, near the
snowmobile trails there. This is just south of the Queensville Sdrd. by about
a km.
Bradford is just east of Hwy. 400 and north of Newmarket. The Canal Road
actually exits from the highway, as does Hwy. 9, which turns into Davis Drive
when it enters Newmarket proper.
