Hi folks Spent several hours in and around the Owl Woods and Jack Pine Plantation yesterday ( Saturday) with Ted Busby. Conditions looked promising in the morning but quickly gave way to snow flurries. We saw several Northern Harriers and Rough Legged Hawks shortly after getting to the island on the way to Owl Woods. A Northern Sawhet had been discovered by others at the Jack Pine Plantation and Ted managed to find another.. Several Long Eared Owls were seen in the Plantation and at least one Short Eared Owl was flying in the vicinity and could be best observed on the South side where it was seen flying in the morning. There were quite a few people in the area. Later in the afternoon. I found one Boreal Owl around 3:00 PM in the Jack Pines and the photos taken are pretty busy with habitat but that was the bird's choice.There was a partially eaten mouse or vole on a branch a few feet below where the Owl was perched. During the day we also saw 2 Hermit Thrushes, 1 Golden Crowned Kinglet, 1 Brown Creeper, all in the Jack Pines as well as 2 American Tree Sparrows at the feeders. A White Breasted Nuthatch at the feeders put on a very nice wing display to another Nuthatch it pursued in the area. On the way out we saw several Short Eared Owls hunting on both sides of the road.
Boreal Owl http://www.pbase.com/photofair/image/107048657 Boreal Owl Cropped image http://www.pbase.com/photofair/image/107045538 Northern Sawhet Owl http://www.pbase.com/photofair/image/107048957 Short Eared Owl flying near the Jack Pines in the morning http://www.pbase.com/photofair/image/107029273 Gary Fairhead Directions: Located 18 km. west of Kingston. Exit off Hwy. 401 at exit 593 (County Rd. 4, Camden East) and drive south to the very end (Millhaven). Turn right on Hwy. 33 and drive 100 metres until you see the sign for the Amherst Island ferry. The ferry (20 minute trip) leaves the mainland on the half hour and leaves the island on the hour. Cost is $8.00 Canadian round trip. To reach the Owl Woods, turn left (east) at the four-way stop sign by the general store and drive 3.4 km along Front Rd. to the (seasonal) Marshall Forty-Foot Rd. Marshall Forty-Foot Rd. is across the road from house #2320. Drive along Marshall Rd. to the mid-way point, where there is an "S" in the road (1.2 km, look for the K.F.N. kiosk which has owl observing ethics). Park in the gravel lane or off the road edge. _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS@hwcn.org For instructions to join or leave ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdssetup.php ONTBIRDS Guidelines may be viewed at http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdsguide.php
