Hello Ontario Birders Today Saturday, Feb. 8, 2003 despite the probable 400 kph winds and the probable minus 100 degree temperature in that wind Stan Bajurny and I went out early this morning to bird the Cayuga to Selkirk Provincial Park area.
We were fortunate to come up with 13 E. Screech Owls from Cayuga to Nelles Corners. This was a surprise because of the winds but I guess it is that time of year for the Owls. The highlight of this part of our outing was the great surprise and rush I got when one of the Screech Owls actually struck my hand and the tape machine as I held it out the window of the vehicle (to cold and lazy to step out) . This has never happened to me before and I was flabbergasted. It was a good thing that I still had the seat belt on as I may have been carried out the window and away which would have certainly ruined my day and Stan's as I had the only Screech Owl tape and it was my turn for buying the gas. From here we went on to the Owl Sanctuary on Concession 6 near Fisherville after dawn where we found 2 Rough-legged Hawks, 5 Red-tailed Hawks and 3 Northern Harriers. hunting the same field and then on to Selkirk Provincial Park. At Selkirk we found 2 male Red-bellied Woodpeckers, 59 Cedar Waxwings and 2 Long-eared Owls along with one A. Robin. We then cut our outing short because of the winds and headed homeward (we plan our annual Owl Run for next weekend) driving down Cty Rd 56 to Stoney Creek and stopping at Green Mountain Rd along Cty Rd 56 (Centennial Parkway) we spied a Peregrine Falcon stalking Rock Doves over a group of apartment buildings. From here we stopped briefly at Pier 25 to do a quick check of the waterfowl here and again we were pleasantly surprised. Hunting the area was a juvenile Northern Goshawk. DIRECTIONS:- SELKIRK PROVINCIAL PARK SOUTH OF HAGERSVILLE On the way down to Long Point from Hamilton on Hwy 6 drive to the centre of Hagersville (see below for Owl Sanctuary), turn left on County Rd 20 (King Street). Drive along Count Rd 20 for approx. 3km and turn right (south) on Cheapside Road. Drive straight down Cheapside Road through Erie and Cheapside to Rainham Rd (Rd 3) and turn left (east). Drive approx. 2km to Wheeler road and turn right (south) and drive to the entrance to the park. OWL SANCTUARY ON CONCESSION 6 Instead of turning onto Cheapside Rd above continue down County Rd 20 past Nelles Corners to Concession 6, turn right and drive west across Fisherville Rd (one concession) and you will spot the Sanctuary sign on your left about 1km past Fisherville Rd. Check the fields on the south (sign) side of the road along here. Best at dusk and also dawn for Owls. CAYUGA Cayuga is directly east of Nelles Corners (about 9.5 km) on the Grand River along Hwy 3 PIER 25 IN BURLINGTON >From the Toronto direction exit the QEW highway at Eastport Drive on your right (before the Burlington Skyway). Drive along Eastport Drive to the traffic lights. Turn left here and drive under the Skyway and then over the Burlington Ship Canal and continue along Eastport Drive under the Skyway again and past the Inland Waterways offices. The basin and ponds are on your right are the Tollgate Ponds. (Of coarse the ship canal bridge is closed for now so you must drive over the Skyway bridge. Exit at the first exit you come to, turn and drive back along Eastport Drive to the Pier 25 entrance on your left). Turn in here and drive straight ahead and across the bridge, park well off the road and check the small pond here as well as the large pond behind it. Great place for shorebirds but of coarse it's winter now and the small pond is frozen but the larger pond has lots of waterfowl in it. Access to the Pier area may be restricted on week days so be prepared to be turned away. Norm Murr Richmond Hill, ON [EMAIL PROTECTED] "Norm Murr" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
