Outdoor Ontario
Photography => Ontario Birds => Topic started by: gary yankech on February 18, 2013, 07:01:08 PM
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I have been hearing about the Snowy Owl at Frenchman's Bay and decided to go down with a friend today. Was not disappointed. After flying back and forth across the bay, it settled in a tall tree on the Lakefront. At one point, an American crow tried to mob it but no avail. It was simply too content and was not budging. Also saw some Redheads, a Hooded Merganser, an American Coot, scaups, and lots of mallards. Did not spot the Blue morph Snow Goose and the Greater White-fronted Goose but, a couple other guys scoped them out among the thousands of Canada Geese. A good day birding. Hope you had a happy family day!!!
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8367/8486546371_1fecb5bf10_z.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/49663413@N08/8486546371/)
Hooded Merganser and friends (http://www.flickr.com/photos/49663413@N08/8486546371/) by Gary Yankech (http://www.flickr.com/people/49663413@N08/), on Flickr
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8390/8487637100_aa0f5dffdb_z.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/49663413@N08/8487637100/)
Redhead (http://www.flickr.com/photos/49663413@N08/8487637100/) by Gary Yankech (http://www.flickr.com/people/49663413@N08/), on Flickr
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8531/8486548903_9ecb14de8f_z.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/49663413@N08/8486548903/)
American Coot and friends (http://www.flickr.com/photos/49663413@N08/8486548903/) by Gary Yankech (http://www.flickr.com/people/49663413@N08/), on Flickr
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8248/8487638406_0c998f5bcc_z.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/49663413@N08/8487638406/)
Snowy Owl (http://www.flickr.com/photos/49663413@N08/8487638406/) by Gary Yankech (http://www.flickr.com/people/49663413@N08/), on Flickr
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May I ask pls, what time of day was this at and where exactly you saw the Snowy? I was out this afternoon looking for her and I couldn't find her! I drove literally all around (down Liverpool to the docks... then up liverpool, down Annland... up and back down the next street... down towards Bayly... south down West Shore (?) all the way to the end, past Rotary Park... down to the end.. turned left... east along the bumpiest road ever!! back out... along the west shore docks...). This was between 12:30-2pm today though... so no doubt I was too early. You're so lucky to have seen her! And what lovely photos!
On the upside, I did see an amazing Red Tail Hawk today (photo posted as well) along my travels around the Bay... so all was not lost. :D
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May I ask pls, what time of day was this at and where exactly you saw the Snowy? I was out this afternoon looking for her and I couldn't find her! I drove literally all around (down Liverpool to the docks... then up liverpool, down Annland... up and back down the next street... down towards Bayly... south down West Shore (?) all the way to the end, past Rotary Park... down to the end.. turned left... east along the bumpiest road ever!! back out... along the west shore docks...). This was between 12:30-2pm today though... so no doubt I was too early. You're so lucky to have seen her! And what lovely photos!
On the upside, I did see an amazing Red Tail Hawk today (photo posted as well) along my travels around the Bay... so all was not lost. :D
Wow.....sorry you missed the Snowy. We met a few others who were there to see it. We arrived at about about 12:00 PM and started at the park, north of the marina. Someone saw it there on the wooden posts out in the water. As we were arriving, we saw it flying out over the water and land on a tall tree at the lakefront. We decided to head over to the main parking lot. On the marina side, there is a trail on a peninsula that leads over to the bay. This was where the tree was but, when we got there it was nowhere it sight. We decided to head over onto the ice, as we spotted the Redheads and other waterfowl amongst the masses of geese. After freezing our butts on the water for over an hour taking nice shots, just as we were leaving the ice the Snowy flew over and again landed in the same tree. A few others saw it too and, a small group gathered nearby. We did not want to scare it but, it happily stayed up on the top of the tree. This was about 1:45 PM. We left at about 2:50 PM and it was till there as we left the parking lot. Hope this helps you. Maybe it will be there tomorrow. Good Luck.
Oh also saw a small group of Trumpeters.....
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8087/8487734624_96d3786bdd_z.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/49663413@N08/8487734624/)
Trumpeter Swan (http://www.flickr.com/photos/49663413@N08/8487734624/) by Gary Yankech (http://www.flickr.com/people/49663413@N08/), on Flickr
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Awww thanks for the reply... I'd probably have found it too if I'd have been able to get out and walk around a lot more - but I had the littles with me this time. I'll try again tomorrow though for sure! thank you! :D
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Great pics Gary. Good meeting you today there.
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Great pics Gary. Good meeting you today there.
Nice meeting you too. Thanks Andy, maybe we'll meet up again some time.
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@Fire0725 - I found the Snowy on Friday around Noonish just sitting on the ice in the middle of the bay. It's easy to miss her on the ice because she's just a little white blob! I remember that she was close to a pointy pile of snow and a few boxes that looked stuck in the ice - who knows maybe she likes the spot and you might see her there again. I tried viewing from both sides and found the west side a bit closer to her. Good luck!
-kris
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BIGFRANK, Leslie Kinrys and I had been viewing the Snowy through the scope of a very kind John Carley while the bird was sitting out on the ice exactly where, and as Kris described. Suddenly it decided to fly all the way out to the mouth of the bay and up to the top of a tree (where Gary got his wonderful photo). We were standing along the east side wall at the end of Commerce Street and had a fantastic view of the fly-by. Beautiful sighting on a beautiful day!
Although I wasn't on the west side of the bay I would have to agree with Kris that it's likely better for viewing this bird.
Walter
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BIGFRANK, Leslie Kinrys and I had been viewing the Snowy through the scope of a very kind John Carley while the bird was sitting out on the ice exactly where, and as Kris described. Suddenly it decided to fly all the way out to the mouth of the bay and up to the top of a tree (where Gary got his wonderful photo). We were standing along the east side wall at the end of Commerce Street and had a fantastic view of the fly-by. Beautiful sighting on a beautiful day!
Although I wasn't on the west side of the bay I would have to agree with Kris that it's likely better for viewing this bird.
Walter
Wow...it would have been nice to finally meet you guys, you were so close. I see your posts all the time. Maybe next time. Yes, it was beautiful day birding. Happy birding!
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We were probably the large things in the distance scoping out what folks were taking pics of or scanning among the thousands of geese on the ice.
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Thanks for the help everyone!! I'll keep trying and eventually maybe I'll find her! :D