Despite blue skies and dazzling sunlight, the wind chill factor out in the flatlands west of Newmarket made birding a very uncomfortable experience today. I was unable to rediscover the Snowy Owl between Woodchoppers Lane and Edward Street, but did see the second owl along Tornado Road. It was in the same general vicinity as last weekend, but on the north side of the road and hunkered down in the field, presumably to minimize the effects of the vicious wind.
Specific directions are as follows (and I apologize for not being clearer about Wist Rd. meeting Canal Rd. in last Sunday's description): Driving north from Toronto, you would exit west a few kms past Hwy. 9 onto Canal Road. You have to be in the easternmost lane because this is a simple turn-off, not a true highway-style exit ramp. (This little exit actually puts you onto Wist Road, a small country lane that runs right beside the highway. It reaches Canal Road in less than a km of the exit - you can clearly see the "Canal Road Farmers Market" sign.) At the Farmers Market, turn right and follow Canal Road about 4 kms (past Day St. and Waida St.) until you get to Tornado Road. Turn right and follow Tornado past Jane and Hazel Streets. The owl was about 150 metres straight north of house #331. Last Sunday the bird was just past this house on Keele Lane, so you could check both sides of the road. Also had an American Kestrel out there. Ron Fleming, Newmarket "Ronald J. Fleming" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
