Outdoor Ontario

Birding Reports => Toronto Reports => Topic started by: Napper on December 02, 2013, 07:38:25 AM

Title: Downsview, Snowy Owl
Post by: Napper on December 02, 2013, 07:38:25 AM

This morning a group of us spotted a snowy owl near Downview park.
It was on the airport side of the fence near the tracks sitting high atop a large
Orange excavator. It flew into the the park then returned to it's perch the time was
6:48 am

Napper
On my mobile

Title: Re: Downsview, Snowy Owl
Post by: Flyingbass on December 03, 2013, 06:01:47 PM

I saw it flying low over the run way just before 4:00.

Title: Re: Downsview, Snowy Owl
Post by: Napper on December 03, 2013, 06:37:24 PM

Hey

This morning the construction crew was there early warming up their equipment, No Owl.

Glad you got to see it, Maybe you be lucky on Dec 8 and get a chance to see it with the children.

Napper:)

p.s it was pretty much pure white

Title: Re: Downsview, Snowy Owl
Post by: Napper on December 04, 2013, 06:16:25 PM

re: Snowy at Dowsview

I talked to a Flight test Mechanic today and he said The Owl was spotted twice by his team Monday in the same location while they were on the runway .

It was on  a snow bank adjacent a taxiway/runway intersection.

If its hanging out there you'll need a spotting scope.  Security has been increased near the runways due to a recent incident

Careful .

Napper :)

Title: Re: Downsview, Snowy Owl
Post by: Napper on December 06, 2013, 05:11:44 PM

At 6:25 am this morning I was standing near the spot where it was first spotted.
Like clockwork the snowy appeared out of the dark flew by me and
landed atop a light standard adjacent the tracks. Scanned the area
then dove towards the nearby grass covered ditch, swiped something
from the ground carried it 50 meters landed atop a mound of dirt and
started feeding.

gmap link
note this an old image, behind the narrow building at the bottom  of this view  
is now a logistics transport area and is paved encircled with light standards.
Adjacent the train tracks and Downsview park. This is where I am seeing
the owl between 6 am and 7 am

http://goo.gl/maps/fr62X (http://goo.gl/maps/fr62X)

Title: Re: Downsview, Snowy Owl
Post by: Flyingbass on December 08, 2013, 04:33:55 PM

Thanks for the heads up!

We had a great Christmas Bird Count for Kids.  We spotted the Snowy Owl on top of a building.  Everyone got a really good look at it through scopes, amazing.  
Full list can be seen here, http://bit.ly/1cjr5Bk (http://bit.ly/1cjr5Bk)

Title: Re: Downsview, Snowy Owl
Post by: Rotarran on December 08, 2013, 08:37:17 PM

That's a great list.  I was there today as well.  I didn't see the Heron or Canada Geese or the Mockingbird, but I did see a Downy Woodpecker and Juncos as well as House Sparrows.

Got some decent shots of the Snowy:
(http://i1276.photobucket.com/albums/y469/Rotarren/cb871ab3-fa8a-48bc-9155-44357ed7214e_zps1a17c941.jpg)

Title: Re: Downsview, Snowy Owl
Post by: Palo on December 09, 2013, 10:38:19 PM

Excellent shot Rotarren!  Glad you found it!

Title: Re: Downsview, Snowy Owl
Post by: thouc on December 10, 2013, 09:58:20 AM

Very nice! Looks like it's a big year for Snowies this year all over eastern North America.