Great Gray Owls continue to pour into Simcoe County. This morning we had 10 owls reported and by this evening there are at least 14 Great Gray Owls in Simcoe County probably twice that many but 14 confirmed observations at the very least. A new report (before 8 a.m.) of a Great Gray Owl (#11) sitting on a hydro pole in a wooded area along Ramara conc. 8 between Muley Point Road and Sideroad 20 near the Osprey nesting platform. Take hwy 12 east from Orillia to Mulhy Point Road and turn right then follow this road to the end at conc. 8 then turn left. I received another report this afternoon of a Great Gray Owl # 12 along Woodland Avenue at Moon Point Road just south of Orillia. I decided to look this afternoon for the Great Gray #11 seen along conc. 8 east of Muley Pt. road near Sideroad 20. I observed a new Great Gray #13 along Muley Point Road opposite the microwave tower and Osprey nest then saw Great Gray # 11 at the corner of Ramara conc. 8 and Sideroad 20 behind the Osprey nest and house and the third Great Gray #14 sitting in a field along Ramara Sideroad 15 just north of conc. 7 of Ramara. All 3 owls were seen between 4:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. today. Please notify with any owl updates for this area.
The European Goldfinch along with a flock of American Goldfinches at Carden has left the Lake Dalrymple feeders (Graham and Ward) being visited by a Sharp-shinned Hawk and has moved south about 10 km. over Cameron Ranch to the Probst's feeder. Judy Probst reported the bird at her feeder for the first time on Thursday, December 23rd around noon. This is the only bird feeder within miles but is being watched by a Northern Shrike. The Probst feeder is well within the Carden CBC count circle but the count is still one week away. Bob Bowles Orillia, Ontario
