Snowy Owls, Bohemian Waxwings, Pine Grosbeaks, etc., etc.

[Anonymous]

Good Day all.
 
 Today Ian Cannell and I headed north from my place to hopefully see some of the recently reported birds and today was our lucky day.
 
 We started out driving along North Lake Road at Lake Wilcox ( In Oak Ridges North of King Rd, East of Yonge St. ) but with only a few regular birds seen. We drove along a few streets before going to the north end of the woodlot on N. Lake Rd to Bayswater Ave. We drove along Bayswater and on a whim Ian drove down a dead end street ( Kingsmead Court ) and at the end we found ( thanks to Ian ) 12 Bohemian and 50+ Cedar Waxwings, 30+ A. Robins and 14 B - C Chickadees. ( Note:- Kingsmead and the connecting street ( Wood Rim Drive I think, between North Lake and Bayswater are new and not on maps and we went down and along several streets to get to Bayswater ). No matter, just be sure to check these woods any where you have access to them.
 
 From here we headed up Leslie Street to Ravenshoe Road and just east of Yonge St. Ian spotted a Snowy Owl on a television arial and along Yonge St. almost at the end of the street we found another Snowy. On our way along Ravenshoe just before the first Snowy we had 44 Com. Redpolls beside the road and on the way back just where the road enters the woods Ian spotted a Pileated Woodpecker that gave us good looks as it preened itself. Also in a tree in this woods was a sleeping Porcupine and just a short distance later we found 26 more Common Redpolls.
 
 Continuing on to Keswick we found 2 Common Ravens along Lake Drive S at Ailine St. and along Metro Rd also in Keswick was a Sharp-sinned Hawk harassing an A. Crow.
 
 We drove several more roads and on St. John's Sideroad at Warden Ave. ( Newmarket ) Ian spotted a few birds in a tree 100 yards or so off the road and after stopping and getting out of the car we counted 28 Pine Grosbeaks, 9 A. Robins, 22 B - C Chickadees along with Tree Sparrows, Juncos, Mourning Doves and A. Goldfinches.
 
 A great finish to a pretty nice outing and I was home by 12:30.
 
 
Norm Murr
Richmond Hill, ON
 
"Sils mordent, mords les"

[gb_eh]

Qwik question regarding the Pine Grosbeaks (I saw them for the 1st time this weekend). Do they normally stay in an area for any period of time. I managed to see a group of about 10 on Saturday in Peterborough, they stayed for about 20mins feeding on berries then took off. I checked back in this area a fews times over the next two days but never saw them again?

I managed a few photos if interested: http://www.pbase.com/gb_eh/pine_grosbeak

[Anonymous]

They will hang around only as long as the berries hold out or if there is a feeder they visit. They are not predictable in any one spot but if one drives the roads around where they were last seen then you may refind them or others.

[Tyler]

I have a flock of Pine Grosbeaks up to 26 now in my neighbourhood. This flock has been around since early december. The are selective harvestors. There are several areas of fruiting crab apples around, and they seem to visit each area daily but only feed in each bush for less then 30mins. When they come to my feeder they are here and gone in under 15 mins. They never seem to exploit one food source till it's gone. It almost looks like they developed their own management plan for the local berry crop.
I live just north of Rossland road and east of Oshawa Creek in Oshawa. This flock seems to roost in the creek valley and forages in 2km radius from this area. They seem to love 2 crab apples trees at the ne corner of sommerville and rossland road(1st lights east of oshawa creek) and the ornamental bushes at hillsdale Park just south west of rossland/ ritson intersection.  

Other than those birds the only'predictable'ones I know of is a small flock in Darlington Provincial Park.

[Tyler]

I have a flock of Pine Grosbeaks up to 26 now in my neighbourhood. This flock has been around since early december. The are selective harvestors. There are several areas of fruiting crab apples around, and they seem to visit each area daily but only feed in each bush for less then 30mins. When they come to my feeder they are here and gone in under 15 mins. They never seem to exploit one food source till it's gone. It almost looks like they developed their own management plan for the local berry crop.
I live just north of Rossland road and east of Oshawa Creek in Oshawa. This flock seems to roost in the creek valley and forages in 2km radius from this area. They seem to love 2 crab apples trees at the ne corner of sommerville and rossland road(1st lights east of oshawa creek) and the ornamental bushes at hillsdale Park just south west of rossland/ ritson intersection.  

Other than those birds the only'predictable'ones I know of is a small flock in Darlington Provincial Park.

[gb_eh]

Thanks for the information...