Outdoor Ontario

Birding Reports => Backyard Birding => Topic started by: Axeman on December 02, 2016, 01:37:03 PM

Title: Any Snowy Owls around yet ?
Post by: Axeman on December 02, 2016, 01:37:03 PM
Is anyone aware of snowy owl around ? hawk owls ? Northern goshawks ? Just wondering if there are any neat migrants around yet....
Title: Re: Any Snowy Owls around yet ?
Post by: thouc on December 02, 2016, 03:05:25 PM
There have been a few reports of Snowy Owls from southern Ontario (Hamilton, Bruce County) so far this year.
No Northern Hawk Owls coming south yet.
Goshawks have been migrating through, most have probably passed already.

/Thomas
Title: Re: Any Snowy Owls around yet ?
Post by: Paul O'Toole on December 02, 2016, 04:43:11 PM
Presqu'ile Provincial Park has one on Sebastopol Island. Also one on Wolfe Island at 4th Line. Haven't been to Amherst Island recently but likely some over there also. On 22 Nov 1 x Snowy Owl was seen on the retaining wall at 401 and Pt Union Rd in Scarborough.
Title: Re: Any Snowy Owls around yet ?
Post by: Axeman on December 20, 2016, 10:51:18 AM
Thanks guys!

I'm looking for one local to me which is west grey / southgate / wellington north area...
Title: Re: Any Snowy Owls around yet ?
Post by: Paul O'Toole on December 20, 2016, 12:28:04 PM
I dug around in eBird a bit and here is the most current Snowy Owl sightings map for Ontario. You have to go into explore data; target species, and keep entering data eventually you will be able to get a good view of what is around. The image is just a screen grab and resized to upload so it does not show all of Ontario.
Title: Re: Any Snowy Owls around yet ?
Post by: winz on December 20, 2016, 04:06:12 PM
Quote from: "Axeman"
Thanks guys!

I'm looking for one local to me which is west grey / southgate / wellington north area...

Snowy Owl reported on eBird in the Conestogo Lake Conservation area in December.  Wellington Road 8 and Wellington Road 12 area.  That's fairly close to you.
Title: Re: Any Snowy Owls around yet ?
Post by: Axeman on December 20, 2016, 08:58:09 PM
Quote from: "Paul O'Toole"
I dug around in eBird a bit and here is the most current Snowy Owl sightings map for Ontario. You have to go into explore data; target species, and keep entering data eventually you will be able to get a good view of what is around. The image is just a screen grab and resized to upload so it does not show all of Ontario.

Thanks for the tip...I'm aware of bird but found it overwhelming...your tip has been really helpful...thank you so much!
Title: Re: Any Snowy Owls around yet ?
Post by: Axeman on December 20, 2016, 08:59:38 PM
Quote from: "winz"
Quote from: "Axeman"
Thanks guys!

I'm looking for one local to me which is west grey / southgate / wellington north area...

Snowy Owl reported on eBird in the Conestogo Lake Conservation area in December.  Wellington Road 8 and Wellington Road 12 area.  That's fairly close to you.

It is ! Thank you ! Now I have a destination -- I am writing a weekly column for our local town newspaper...and thought I'd use my search for a snowy as the frame for the column...
Title: Re: Any Snowy Owls around yet ?
Post by: Napper on January 02, 2017, 02:38:31 PM
Any luck Axeman?

The last two years I've spotted Snowy Owls at Downsview during Dec and Jan.  Nothing so far during Dec 2016. Its  Christmas shutdown,  will see what 2017 brings starting Tuesday.

This weeks edition of the Milton newspaper had a daytime photo of a Long Eared Owl peering around a tree trunk taken in a back yard not very far from where I live. I tried to find a link online but no luck.

Happy New Year
Hope 2017 is good for you!

Napper
Title: Re: Any Snowy Owls around yet ?
Post by: Axeman on January 20, 2017, 10:13:38 PM
Quote from: "Napper"
Any luck Axeman?

The last two years I've spotted Snowy Owls at Downsview during Dec and Jan.  Nothing so far during Dec 2016. Its  Christmas shutdown,  will see what 2017 brings starting Tuesday.

This weeks edition of the Milton newspaper had a daytime photo of a Long Eared Owl peering around a tree trunk taken in a back yard not very far from where I live. I tried to find a link online but no luck.

Happy New Year
Hope 2017 is good for you!

Napper

Thanks Napper ! I wish you all the best for 2017 too! Been a while.

The long eared owl was another bird I was going to ask about...my guides show they live in our mutual areas but have never come across a post regarding a long eared owl.

I haven't found a snowy yet...although I've had non birders report sighting them to me....one of them saw the Lake Conestoga owl in December.
Title: Re: Any Snowy Owls around yet ?
Post by: Axeman on February 09, 2017, 01:53:02 PM
I went on an owl prowl last Saturday evening hosted by the Saugeen Field Naturalists -- no owls but one of the experienced members shared with me that there was a parliament...or a glaring or a wisdom...of 32 snowy owls in the Chesley Ontario area...that's just a bit nw of me...I was wondering if anyone wanted to come for a looky loo with me either this Saturday or the Saturday of the Family day long weekend...families welcome of course....

I am writing a column for a local small town newspaper based on my hunt for a snowy....let me know. Thanks !
Title: Re: Any Snowy Owls around yet ?
Post by: Axeman on February 27, 2017, 04:34:45 AM
Well..I saw my snowies...up in Chesley...there is a parliament...or a wisdom...or a glaring of snowies up there...I saw about 5 or 6 in somewhat nearby proximity but someone sent me a pic with 10 in the photo and there are reports of up to 40 together...northwest of Chesley...sideroad 25 between concessions 8 and 10...in the fields....if I could figure out how to post a pic I'd post a pic or two....
Title: Re: Any Snowy Owls around yet ?
Post by: thouc on February 27, 2017, 12:48:40 PM
Congratulations!
Title: Re: Any Snowy Owls around yet ?
Post by: Axeman on February 27, 2017, 10:36:54 PM
Thank you! It was really neat...I've been on the hunt for so long...and unlike my scarlet tanager...I got pix ! lol

And I have to say....when I got to the area, I just knew I was there..there were cars lined up and down both sides of the side road...with car and buggy traffic squeezing through...I was amazed to see lots of people in camouflage....one guy had a camera that I mistook for an RPG rocket launcher....but everyone was friendly...it was like a brotherhood...

Soooo ummm...now what?