I went over to the overlooks near Nichols Marina in Ft. Erie for
a brief look at the ducks. This has been and is a most productive area
for sheer variety of ducks. The Common Loon and Harlequin Duck were not
here today, but there were many others including about 15 White winged
Scoters, 1 immature or female Black Scoter, many Greater Scaup and Red
breasted Mergansers, and lesser numbers of Buffleheads, Common
Golden-eyes, and Common Mergansers. And plenty of Red-necked Grebes,
about 40 or so. One first winter grebe was so close that it almost
challenged my close focus.
However the main intent of my outing was to find a Long-eared owl.
After some looking, I saw a nice LONG-EARED OWL in "active" posture
from the Grand River Trail at Rock Point Provincial Park. I got a good
long look, and left without spooking it.
Looking for Saw-whets and Boreals (always the optimist) was a
different story. The brush, brambles, etc. are awful at Rock Point, and
negotiating through all this to seek out roosting owls was tedious at
best. As you may have guessed, no finds. I mainly checked the spruces
behind (north and west) of the banding station, near the feeders. By the
time I checked the "plantation" spruces" going towards the Woodlot
Trail, it was getting too dark.
On the way back I saw a very tame (more likely a very cold) bluebird
perched fully exposed to the howling frigid wind. Although nature can
be cruel, I do not like seeing sweet little Bluebirds (nor
Yellow-breasted chats) exposed to this type of weather.
I noticed many footprints at Rock Point - definitely an owler. If you
are on this list--did you find anything?
Lewis Crowell
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
