Hi Ontbirders:
The barred Snowy Owl is still being seen on Rushmore Road between Old Richmond
Road and Eagleson. If you are facing Eagleson, the owl would be perched to
your left on top of one of the tall pylons there. Later in the day it flew and
landed on one of the posts along Rushmore.
I received a tip from a couple I know, saying they saw an adult male Snowy Owl
this afternoon....in the excitement of the moment relaying information....I
forget if it was also on Rushmore Road or on Brownlee. It was perched on a
fence post at a great distance. I will recheck location with this couple and
post again. May be worth checking out.
The number of Common Redpolls at the Hilda Road feeders have incresed quite a
bit since I last visited over the holidays. I would estimate about 4 dozen or
more. People have reported one Hoary in the flock some time in the past
several weeks. A regular to the feeders mentioned seeing a Brown Creeper a few
days ago. I too have seen a Brown Creeper at the same feeders a couple of
times in the past several months. The resident Merlin paid a visit to the
feeders this afternoon stirring up all the birds there. You can usually tell
something is amiss when the chickadees sound their alarm calls.
A drive to the Ottawa Duck Club feeders along March Valley Road did not show
much aside from the usual birds including a Pileated Woodpecker coming to the
suet feeders. I was looking for male Pine Grosbeaks which were seen over the
holidays. Someone mentioned seeing Pine Grosbeaks at that location earlier in
the week. My past experience tells me that early morning is the best time to
see Pine Grosbeaks there.
Yes, the Great Gray Owls could easily be seen at the same location today.
They're not going anywhere...not until some time in March based on past
observations. A staedy flow of observers all morning including birders and
photographers. Everyone there seemed to be enjoying themselves.
If you check out Bruce DiLabio's birding blog, you'll see he found a Boreal Owl
in the west end of Ottawa on January 21st.
http://brucedilabio.blogspot.ca/
Some photos taken today.
Merlin.
http://www.pbase.com/golfpic/image/148491583/original
Great Gray Owl.
http://www.pbase.com/golfpic/image/148491637/original
W. Hum
http://www.pbase.com/golfpic/some_recent_shots
Directions:
Hilda Road feeders: Follow Carling west to Rifle Road. Turn right on Rifle
and right again at Lois. Then left at Hilda.
Ottawa Duck Club feeders: Follow Carling west past Rifle Road and continue
until Hertzberg. Turn right on Hertzberg and continue until March Valley Road.
Turn left on March Valley Road until just before Riddell. Feeders are on your
right. Watch that you do not go too much to the side of the road as it slopes
off quickly but the snowbank covers up where the ditch starts. I have seen
vehicles stuck here before.
Great Gray Owls: Rockcliffe Parkway at Green's Creek.
Snowy Owls: Rushmore Road is between Old Richmond Road and Eagleson in
Ottawa's west end.
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