Hi,
Late Tuesday afternoon, John Floegel reported a Short-eared Owl at
Thickson's. The bird appeared over the Meadow and flew westward just north
of the Waterfront Trail, crossing Thickson Road and flying westward just
south of the berms south of the former LASCO Steel plant. The bird was
hunting as it went. The sighting was about 5:30 p.m.
John also located the Pileated Woodpecker roost tree, a dead sugar maple
more or less in the centre of the woods. The bird, a female, enterred the
roost hole at about 4:40 p.m. On Monday, the Pileated spend a good part of
the late afternoon feeding, often low to the ground, in the south part of
the woods. On Tuesday it arrived from eastward across Corbett Creek Marsh
at about 4:15, which seems to be it's more usual pattern. It seems to be
very tame, allowing close approach and excellent views.
The Great Horned Owl pair seem to be roosting in the vicinity of the
sightings box and are frequenting the yard along the Lake Ontario shore
where they nested last spring. Just at dusk they fly about and vocalize for
a short time giving good views.
To reach Thickson's Woods exit from 401 to Thickson Road South in
Whitby. Proceed south past Wentworth Street to the Waterfront Trail. Turn
around, and park on the east side of Thickson Road. Walk east along the
Waterfront Trail and enter the woods on a path from the south side, about
200 metres east of Thickson Road. Follow the trails through the woods, some
of which access the Lake Ontario shore. To view the beaver pond and Corbett
Creek Marsh continue east about 100 metres past the entrance to the woods.
The meadow is across the Waterfront Trail immediately north of the woods.
The entrance is directly across the Waterfront Trail from the entrance to
the woods. To view a map,
visit the Thickson's Woods website at http://www.thicksonswoods.com
"Dennis Barry" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
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