owling

[ontario birdwatch]

This may be a little early to ask, though are there any well known owl hotspots around south eastern Ontario that are good for species like long eared, short eared, or snowy owls, if so I would enjoy any ideas.

[thouc]

Amherst Island is the classical owl location. I haven't been there so others might have more specific directions.

[ontario birdwatch]

Thanks Thouc, are there any other hotspots in the kitchener waterloo, hamilton or toronto region that owls may be regular.

[thouc]

There are usually owls at Tommy Thompson Park (Leslie Street spit) in Toronto. Snowy Owls are regular in the fields near Keswick/Bradford, usually some come down to the lakefront (TTP, Sam Smith, Burlington/Oakville etc). Exact locations for owls are usually kept secret to avoid disturbance unless the owl can be viewed safely from a distance (often the case with Snowies) or is accustomed to people (like the Barred Owl that was a regular at Hall's Road in Whitby the last winters.)

[Reuven_M]

My biggest tip would be to try and find owls yourself. If you are familiar with their habits and habitat, and spend enough time in the field, you will come across owls from time to time. Particular tips I would give are:
-Let other birds find them for you. Crows going nuts might indicate they've found a Great Horned Owl, or a Red-tailed Hawk, or a Fox etc. Similarly, chickadees become very agitated in the presence of Saw-whet Owls, Screech Owls, Sharp-shinned Hawks and to some extent larger predators like Long-eared Owls.
-Check small to medium-sized dense conifers, especially ones near open fields. These are ideal locations for roosting Long-eared and Saw-whet Owls. Often the whitewash (poop) and pellets below are more obvious than the owl itself. Just be considerate as owls can be very easy to flush. Don't get any closer than you need to be to see it, especially if it opens it's eyes and starts staring at you. This isn't always possible of course. The last Long-eared Owls I saw were three I flushed from a cedar without having any clue they were there - I was looking at a rabbit carcass nearby!

[ontario birdwatch]

Thanks again for several nearer locations Thouc and thanks Reuven for some tips of watching owls.  Can't wait to get out, thanks.

[Howieh]

Also check out the Humber Arboretum for a few species of owls and other interesting birds; if white winged crossbills get this far south it's usually a good place to spot them.