Hi All, An afternoon (and new year) start with the Northern Hawk Owl seen along Hwy 2, just WEST of Welcome, was a great start! The bird was actively hunting the ditch along the highway, also seen in the town of Welcome was an adult Northern Shrike.
At Markus Lise's residence on Mill Street in Newcastle was a female Red-bellied Woodpecker and a male Rusty Blackbird. Already mentioned were 4 (maybe 5?) Great Gray Owls at the meadow at Thickson's Woods as well as one calling Great Horned Owl in the woods (someone else had the pair), right near the Bird Sightings Book. A very quick look at Pringle Creek / Whitby Harbour did not locate the Sandhill Crane (but apparently one was seen at Lynde Shores CA), but a male Northern Pintail was at this location. A late day stop in at Cranberry Marsh, around 4:45pm, netted 1 possibly 2 Great Grays hunting over the field to the west of the marsh as well as a very late evening (5:15pm, when almost dark) Long-eared Owl which flew out from the east side of the road near the north walkway and out over the field to the west of Hall's Rd. A great start to a new "birding year"!! Cheers, Happy New Year & Good Birding, Frank Pinilla Toronto, ON DIRECTIONS: N Hawk Owl - exit Hwy 401 at the Hwy 2 exit to the town of Welcome (just north of Port Hope), head north to a 4-way stop and go west/left along Hwy 2, the bird was located in front of 3966 Hwy 2 "Maple Lane Farm" Markus Lise property - a blue house on the west side of Mill Street (exit off Hwy 401 at Newcastle) and head south on Mill toward the lake, the road comes to a 3-way stop, stay to the left to keep on Mill. Thickson's Woods - exit Hwy 401 at Thickson Road in Whitby, head south towards the lake, you will see the big stand of White Pines near the lake, the meadow is just north of the woodlot. Pringle Creek / Whitby Harbour - exit Hwy 401 at Brock St (Hwy 12), head south toward Lake Ontario, Brock Street crosses over Pringle Creek, stop here and scan for waterfowl (and the Sandhill Crane which has been hanging around here) Cranberry Marsh - from Brock Street in Whitby, head west along Victoria Street, you will pass Lynde Shores CA on the south side, and shortly after this will be Hall's Road, again on the south, head down Hall's Road to one of two parking areas, the first being the "North Walkway", where there have been at least 2 Barred Owls around. ************* Frank Pinilla Toronto, ON e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
