Today, January 3, we were amazed to find three northern owl species within
the Bracebridge town limits. A Snowy Owl and Northern Hawk Owl were in the
same area along Robert Dollar Drive. The Snowy hunts in the vacant lot
behind Leon's Furniture and has been a regular there for about three weeks.
The Hawk Owl, first reported on January 1, was mostly on the ridge behind
Muskoka Windows and Doors. At 4pm the Hawk Owl was seen diving at the Snowy
as it sat on the top of a hydro pole. The Snowy didn't fly, just crouched
and spread its wings in a threatening pose. Five minutes south on Muskoka
Rd 17, two Great Gray Owls were hunting in an old field across from the
abandoned Alcan factory. The two Great Grays on Golden Beach Rd off Hwy
118W just west of Bracebridge (reported previously) were also seen today.
For updates check the Muskoka Bird Board:
http://b3.boards2go.com/boards/board.cgi?&user=MuskokaBirdBoard
Directions: Bracebridge is 2 hrs drive north of Toronto on Highway 11. Take
the south entrance to Bracebridge, Muskoka Rd 118.
For the Great Grays: go past the railway underpass and turn left on Muskoka
Rd 17, then around the first bend to the Alcan factory.
For the Snowy and Hawk Owl: continue on 118 past Muskoka 17 to the first
corner past Leon's, turn left on Robert Dollar drive.
Al Sinclair
Bracebridge
