I just had a phone call from Erwin Meissner of Massey, which is west
of Sudbury. Erwin mentioned some interesting recent sightings. He's
not on email.
Sharp-tailed Grouse: Nine were displaying on top of the icy snow near
Gore Bay on Manitoulin Island. Numbers will increase.
Great Gray Owl: There have been several recent reports, including two
on Manitoulin Island. Most Great Grays are being seen for only one
day suggesting that they are returning north. I wonder where they wintered.
Great Horned Owl: A pair of Great Horned Owls is using an old raven's
nest. One bird is a pale northern Snyder's subspecies
(scalariventris) and the other is a darker southern subspecies
(virginianus). This mixed pair is not unexpected because subspecies
freely interbreed. Great Horned Owls prey heavily on Snowshoe Hares
in northern Ontario.
Most Pine Grosbeaks departed northward about two weeks ago.
Bobcat and Lynx: Erwin has a Bobcat that comes to his bird feeder at
night. It took some suet and a few days ago he gave it a road-killed
Ruffed Grouse. Bobcats are rare in Ontario. Most are found along the
north shore of Lake Huron. I've also had reports that Lynx may be
fairly common this winter in parts of northern Ontario. Erwin
mentioned that Snowshoe Hares are common in Massey. Hares also must
be common in areas reporting Lynx.
Good birding,
Ron Pittaway
Minden/Toronto ON
jeaniron AT sympatico.ca
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