Ian Cannell and I birded Amherst Island Saturday and besides the 8 Saw-Whet Owls and 1 Long-eared Owl in the Owl Woods we also found 8 of the 11 reported Snowy Owls.
Other high lights were 5 White-winged Crossbills, Red-bellied, Hairy and Downy Woodpeckers (Owl Woods), 35+ Common Redpolls (Owl Woods), the usual high numbers of Red-tailed and Rough-legged Hawks, 6 Kestrels, a dozen American Robins, and what is probably the first of many Red-winged Blackbirds. We happened upon a flock of approx. 35 male Red-wings with 1 male Common Grackle among them.
There is an increasing area of open water on the lake which held many Common Goldeneye and a couple dozen Canada Geese.
We also had close ups of 39 White-tailed Deer along the various roads.
DIRECTIONS
AMHERST ISLAND
Exit Hwy 401 at exit # 593 and drive south on County Rd 4 to Hwy 33 at Millhaven. (20 minute drive ). Turn right (east) and drive a very short distance to the ferry dock. The ferry runs every hour on the half hour from 6:30am. (Fee $8.00 per vehicle).
CAUTION : - Though there is very little snow in and into the Owl Woods the trail is very, very icy and slippery and if a warm spell arrives then the Pine Woods will surely be flooded in parts with several inches of water.
