The Holland Marsh has been good for raptors in this first month of the new
year. Last Saturday Mike Van den Tillaart and I had a female/imm. Merlin along
Strawberry Lane but when I looked for it yesterday I found a Northern Shrike
instead. A male American Kestrel has been present all winter, often found
along Wist Road or Devald. It was at the latter location yesterday, apparently
eyeing up one of the two White-crowned Sparrows that are still wintering with a
flock of American Tree Sparrows west of Day St. There is also a male Northern
Harrier in this area.
As reported by a few Ontbirds posters already, there is a Snowy Owl
wintering in the general vicinity of Edward and Aileen Streets south of
Bradford. On Saturday morning I watched it being hassled by two crows who
eventually drove it from the west side of Aileen to the east side, where it
settled on the ground well out in the fields. This area is bounded by Keele
and Jane Streets on the east and west, Strawberry and Woodchopper's Lanes on
the north and south, respectively. A scope is often needed to find this bird.
Another Snowy is wintering near the north end of Bathurst Street near Holland
Landing.
Again, a scope is usually necessary for decent looks. It usually sits out in
the fields well away from the road, west of the last storage building. Today
while visiting Ravenshoe Road for the first time since Keith Dunn's passing
(this area was his regular beat), I observed an immature/female Northern
Harrier (i.e. brown) hunting in the marsh west of Yonge Street and another
Snowy, this one sitting on top of a green combine, also west of Yonge.
Needless to say, owl seekers are encouraged to observe these birds from the
roadside, letting your scope or your best camera lens cover the distance.
Ron Fleming, Newmarket
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