Snow Bunting

[Steve Hood]

I happened to be creeping along a side road just north of Whitby looking at some Common Redpolls.  I think this snow bird and I both startled each other as it must have been feed right next to the car when it jumped up on the snow bank beside our vehicle.

[Shortsighted]

What a wonderfully classic shot of a Snow Bunting acting as bunting for the bank of otherwise unadorned snow.
Did you find any C. Redpoll or Horned Lark?
I've been thinking of heading out to Whitby looking for much the same and almost went today but decided on
visiting Bluffers Park instead because it was closer. Moreover, any other walk I've taken has shown absolutely
no bird activity, not even Chickadees or Juncos. There were quite a few chickadees and Cardinals at the grounds
of the Guild Inn and a RB woodpecker way up in a tree, but nothing else caught my eye. Bluffer's Park had one
Northern Pintail among the many Mallards as well has a few Bufflehead, Greater Scaup and C. Goldeneye .
I hope to head out to Whitby soon, just don't know when exactly.

[Steve Hood]

I saw this Snow Bunting along with a group of Common Redpolls and Horned Larks along Cockrane St. just north of Hwy 7.  They have been there for a few days so you could try there.

[Shortsighted]

Thanks for the tip.
I went to that location today, both north and south of #7.
There was nothing to be seen north of the hwy. Nothing
moved and there was no sound except for a distant crow.
South of the hwy I thought I might have seen a single Horned Lark at the
side of the road as it scurried down the snowy slope. I
immediately pulled over and shut the engine down.
After getting out I heard a faint call, but so feeble as
to be almost inaudible. Nothing moved.

I eventually made my way down to Hall's Rd. south and
found one Northern Shrike perched beside the path that
passes through the farmer's field. After I pulled-over it
took off and flew about half a kilometer to the southeast.
There were two guys at the north end of the path and one
of them had big glass and was definitely waiting for something.
Maybe the shrike was up there before and they were waiting
for a return visit. I've never got a fair shot of a N.Shrike so
I'm disappointed that it didn't hang around longer.

[Steve Hood]

Maybe the melting snow is encouraging them to move further north now.  I find this type of birding is hit or miss with mostly misses in my case.  I have been trying to get a photo of a Snow Bunting for a few years now and this was really my first good opportunity.  

The Shrike has been in that exact same location for most of the winter.  But I have never been able to get a picture of him as he always flies off.  We are getting some strong southerly winds for tomorrow and Friday so we might see some early migrants this coming weekend.  My guess is that the RWBB will be arriving en masse along with a few others.  Spring is finally arriving.

[Shortsighted]

Sound prediction based on wind direction but I don't know how strong those winds will be.
I didn't know the Shrike has been there all winter. Never get out there much because it
sucks up a lot of gas and time and usually without results. I saw a shrike near the house
near Bayly last year and as soon as I got glasses on it the shrike was airbourne. At the
time there were also a few Horned Lark next to the road about half way to the woods.
I was out near Woodbine and Hwy #7 last week for other reasons and took my camera
in case I spotted something interesting on the way. There was a RTH on a lamp post
and it took off as soon as I pulled over. When I got home I discovered that there was
a sighting of a Pine Grosbeak in a parkette very near where I had just been. The park
is so small that had I known I might have got a sighting of it. An actual picture of it
is just wishful thinking. Still, what are the odds that it would be sighted near where I
was at the same time and then never spotted again. Rats!

[Ally]

I saw this Snow Bunting along with a group of Common Redpolls and Horned Larks along Cockrane St. just north of Hwy 7.  They have been there for a few days so you could try there.

Awww, I really want to see those birds, bunting, horned larks and redpolls.

[Dinusaur]

I know it's a bit north, I saw a whole of buntings together with a few Horned Lark along Concession Road 7 in Minesing area about a week ago. Yes, it is hard to get a decent close up photo of them.

[Shortsighted]

Ally, if you want to spot Redpoll, Horned Lark and Snow Bunting you will need to go out
as often as possible because March is half over and I've never seen any of these species
in April. Farmer's fields, and concession roads where there are corn dumps. Too bad you
can't google recent corn dumps to find where they are instead of wasting gas roaming
all around the countryside. I've seem Horned Lark and Snow Bunting on Hall's Rd in Whitby
but it is hit and miss, mostly miss. Redpolls can be anywhere from your backyard to the
top of Beare Hill in the Rouge. I've even seen them at Ashbridges in March.