Outdoor Ontario

Birding Reports => Toronto Reports => Topic started by: Napper on November 07, 2018, 04:35:22 PM

Title: Downsview, Snowy
Post by: Napper on November 07, 2018, 04:35:22 PM
This morning at 6:40 am I spotted a Snowy Owl  flying overhead,  it landed along the edge of of one of the hangers
at Downsview. It stayed for a while as I watched from a distance then disappeared... A touch early, last year I didn't see one until Nov 25.

We have been on the lookout a few weeks now for "Snowy's" as we drive the 407 to the 401 at the Milton/Mississauga border.

Napper:)
Title: Re: Downsview, Snowy
Post by: mr.sharp-photo on November 13, 2018, 08:41:35 AM
driving home from hockey last night, i spotted something on the Allen. did a U-turn and pulled over.
a snowy was on a streetlamp on the Allen just north of Transit Rd on the east side
Title: Re: Downsview, Snowy
Post by: Dinusaur on November 13, 2018, 07:59:19 PM
Let the fun begin - hope to see one popping up in the park soon.
Title: Re: Downsview, Snowy
Post by: Napper on November 23, 2018, 07:12:31 PM
Spotted Snowy @ 10 am  Yesterday same flight path as first sighting. Didn't land on hanger it continued West toward the tracks  near those new  condos South of the pond at Downsview.

Napper:)

p.s Nothing yet at 407/401 its still early.
Title: Re: Downsview, Snowy
Post by: Napper on December 01, 2018, 04:04:31 PM
Spotted a Snowy @ 07:25 and 08:50 on Wednesday Morning same scenario as previous thread/post

At least one Snowy Owl has taken up Winter residence at Downsview Airport.

In the future, only if I see something unusual or a different Snowy will  I report it. :)

Napper
Title: Re: Downsview, Snowy
Post by: Axeman on December 10, 2018, 11:04:42 PM
Yeah well....I've spotted a dozen in the same field....and....this week I spotted a bald eagle....soooooo.....beat that.
Title: Re: Downsview, Snowy
Post by: Dinusaur on December 24, 2018, 05:19:51 PM
Today I saw a female/juvenile Snowy sitting on a lamp post by the parking lot near the airport fence line. It then flew into the airfield and sat on one of the windsocks. Shortly afterwards a van puled over inside the airport fence line close to where the Snowy was sitting. The driver later told me that he was there to trap the Snowy and release it somewhere safe. Apparently he removed three Snowy owls the week before. So this one may be gone soon.
Title: Re: Downsview, Snowy
Post by: Ally on December 24, 2018, 05:50:05 PM
How to trap a snowy, is he a professional?
Title: Re: Downsview, Snowy
Post by: Dinusaur on December 24, 2018, 06:00:15 PM
Quote from: "Ally"
How to trap a snowy, is he a professional?
That's what he professed to be. He had a Border Collie running behind the van. When he stopped by the Snowy he put the dog inside the van and then waited. I didn't see him laying any trap. May he was taking the inventory for coming back later to trap it.
Title: Re: Downsview, Snowy
Post by: Ally on December 24, 2018, 08:07:25 PM
Quote from: "Dinusaur"
Quote from: "Ally"
How to trap a snowy, is he a professional?
That's what he professed to be. He had a Border Collie running behind the van. When he stopped by the Snowy he put the dog inside the van and then waited. I didn't see him laying any trap. May he was taking the inventory for coming back later to trap it.

Thanks for answering Dinu.
Title: Re: Downsview, Snowy
Post by: Napper on December 24, 2018, 08:48:26 PM
Quote from: "Dinusaur"
The driver later told me that he was there to trap the Snowy and release it somewhere safe. Apparently he removed three Snowy owls the week before. So this one may be gone soon.

How were you able to talk to the driver?  I've seen the Border Collie plus one other dog before in the past It was an"https://www.orkincanada.ca/pests/wildlife/"   vehicle.

The Property is now owned By  a "Federal Pension plan"  Leased by you know who... Protecting Their New product

 :evil:
Title: Re: Downsview, Snowy
Post by: Dinusaur on December 24, 2018, 11:08:28 PM
I talked to him through the fence. There's an unpaved road that goes around the north-west perimeter of the airport (south of Downsview subway station) and at some point runs very close to the parking lot where I parked my car.  He drove on that road. He opened his passenger side window and explained to me that he was there for trap and release program. I asked him if he bands the bird too, he said he is no expert in banding. After a while the bird flew off of the windsock and went further into the field. He drove on leaving the bird and I came home as the light was almost gone.
Title: Re: Downsview, Snowy
Post by: mr.sharp-photo on February 24, 2019, 03:22:46 PM
interesting.
i would see the owl sitting on the east side of the Allen, just north of Transit rd. saw it all through December. same light post.
hadn't seen it since. guess it's been trapped and moved.

idiots.
Title: Re: Downsview, Snowy
Post by: Napper on April 10, 2019, 04:33:31 PM
Snowy this morning at 7:15 am

Stayed most of the day on corner of Hanger. Pretty late no?

Napper :shock:
Title: Re: Downsview, Snowy
Post by: Axeman on April 18, 2019, 12:37:44 PM
Seriously??

Although I'm tracking 2 accounts of snowies breeding here....not sure the likelihood of it being true but....they swear the owls are white...and it makes no sense for barn owls to be nesting at the particular sites....also given that there are only 6 known nesting barn owl pairs in Ontario.....
Title: Re: Downsview, Snowy
Post by: Napper on April 18, 2019, 06:17:21 PM
Quote from: "Axeman"
given that there are only 6 known nesting barn owl pairs in Ontario.....

Really! are we holding something back? Mr. Axe.