Up early at my sister's home in Stoney Creek this morning, I realized that I had a few free hours before everyone rolled out of bed, so I grabbed my binos, jumped in the car and drove out to Fisherville. I birded the 6th Concession exclusively (based on limited time) and had very good views of the following: approximately 14 SHORT-EARED OWLS (they basically exploded from a tree and flew off in all directions at once), one female NORTHERN HARRIER, one light-phase ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK, and a dozen HORNED LARKS. I returned to Stoney Creek to find breakfast waiting and my brother-in-law rolling his eyes. ("You drove out to Fisherville to look for birds at 6:30 in the morning?") I nodded and asked for some bacon.
Returning home to Newmarket late in the day, I dropped my wife off, then spent an hour driving around the Holland Marsh just west of Newmarket and south of Bradford. At Hwy. 9 and Jane St., a dark-phase ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK soared southward toward Kettleby. Based on Garth Baker's report from Saturday, I drove to Day St, just off Canal Road, east of Hwy. 400. I could not find the Snowy Owl he'd reported, but took great pleasure in watching a very sleek male NORTHERN HARRIER hunting low over the fields south of Devald St. The harrier suddenly dipped out of sight as if he'd gone after something behind a row of bullrushes, then rose again, followed by the adult male SNOWY OWL (described in Garth's post), brawny, pure white and obviously agitated! The harrier, however, proved more agile and aggressive in the arial show that followed, perhaps defending a territory he'd refused to leave back in the autumn. He stayed above the owl, diving at it several times while the larger white raptor swiveled its head back and forth in an effort to keep the harrier in sight. Eventually, the owl banked sharply and landed on a stump, allowing the harrier to continue on its way eastward. I returned to Canal Road and proceeded to Tornado Drive, where another Snowy has been lingering for at least two weeks. I had trouble rediscovering it, but eventually spotted the bird hunting low over the fields southeast of Tornado and Simcoe Rd. There are at least three Snowy Owls out in the Holland Marsh this winter, the adult male referred to above and two female/juvenile birds, but they are not always easy to find. The Holland Marsh is easily accessible from Hwy. 400. From the south, take the Canal Road exit a few kms. north of Hwy. 9. Drive to the Farmer's Market building (you truly can't miss it), then turn right (east) on Canal Road. Fisherville is a small town down by Lake Erie. It is southwest of Cayuga. I usually take Hwy. 3 across to Nelle's Corners, then turn south. After a few kms. you will come to a little green sign for Fisherville. Turn right (south) and keep your eyes peeled for the 6th Concession. Turn right (west). The Short-ears are usually found on the south side of the road near Pine Row Farms, east of the Raptor Reserve. Ron Fleming, Newmarket "Ronald J. Fleming" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>