Outdoor Ontario

Birding Reports => Backyard Birding => Topic started by: Axeman on February 12, 2012, 10:42:56 PM

Title: Winter Strays ?
Post by: Axeman on February 12, 2012, 10:42:56 PM

With the exception of the Great Gray Owl near London, have there been any other winter strays ? Usually there are a few interesting birds around -- hawk owls, snowy owls....I haven't heard of any this year.

Title: Re: Winter Strays ?
Post by: newfoundlander61 on February 13, 2012, 06:29:53 AM

A Varied Thrush east of Ottawa  Limoges) last seen 4 Feb 12.

Title: Re: Winter Strays ?
Post by: Reuven_M on February 13, 2012, 08:11:57 AM

Plenty - lots of snowy owls, and a variety of rarities like black-throated gray warbler, fish crow, black vulture, band-tailed pigeon, gray-crowned rosy-finch, mountain bluebird etc..

Title: Re: Winter Strays ?
Post by: Trillian Flummox on February 13, 2012, 10:10:19 AM

The Ontario Field Ornothologists have a twitter feed that posts rare or interesting bird sightings here: http://twitter.com/ontbirds
or you can subscribe to the same service via email here:  http://ontbirds.ca/mailman/listinfo/birdalert_ontbirds.ca
or if you have an iphone you can use an app called "iONTARIO BIRDS"

Title: Re: Winter Strays ?
Post by: Axeman on February 19, 2012, 01:46:16 PM

Thank you Trillian ! I signed up and now get some very interesting updates.

Title: Re: Winter Strays ?
Post by: Trillian Flummox on February 19, 2012, 02:52:37 PM

You're very welcome! Even when I don't have time for an outing, it's fun to do a little vicarious birding on-line!

Title: Re: Winter Strays ?
Post by: Axeman on February 19, 2012, 03:02:52 PM

vicarious birding...interesting term...

OK I know I gotta get out more but...I just saw an American Tree Sparrow...the winter chippy...at my feeders...we usually get one or two for the duration of the winter but this year he hadn't appeared until now. I'm thrilled.  :|