Snowy Owl! Downsview

Napper · **on:** February 10, 2012, 04:22:44 PM

Today at 3:25 pm, as I was walking across inside parking area of the plant

A beautiful all white Snowy flew above and just in front of me and landed atop one of our hangers

after brief circle over the nearby neigbourhood.

When I left at 3:30 it was perched atop the South East corner of the tall (gray) hanger nearest to

Ancaster rd and Home road. If you find the Grumman tracker and the Tutor look up.

Cheers :!: Napper

sorry no photo's

Flyingbass · **Reply #1 on:** February 10, 2012, 04:34:42 PM

I talked to someone who saw the snowy owl on three different occasions over the last two weeks, mostly north of you near the farmers merchant building actually in Downsview Park. I didn't see any owls today but I did see a Northern Mocking Bird, a couple of American Kestrels, 4 mourning Doves, 2 cardinals and a couple of circling hawks. A co-worker saw a woodpecker today as well, don't know what kind though.

feathered · **Reply #2 on:** February 10, 2012, 04:35:33 PM

Nice! I know they've been seen elsewhere in the park but I've never been to the south end.

Napper · **Reply #3 on:** February 10, 2012, 04:47:58 PM

Hey!

It is inside the security fence.
Security is really tight lately due to a rash of vehicle break-ins.
You have to show a security badge to be present in any
of the parking lots.

Napper:

Correction it was near Ancaster rd and Powell Rd.

Flyingbass · **Reply #4 on:** February 14, 2012, 04:13:51 PM

Hello,

A co-worker took a picture of what he thought was an owl perched on a fence post outside of the sports hangar. Not a very good picture at all but let me know if you if you think it is the snow owl or if you have any other ideas. It was seen today around lunch time.

Flyingbass[attachment=0:3bkc3p35]IMG00227-20120214-1353.jpg[/attachment:3bkc3p35]

feathered · **Reply #5 on:** February 14, 2012, 04:33:30 PM

Looks like a Snowy.

Napper · **Reply #6 on:** February 14, 2012, 04:50:32 PM

Hey!

It looks like it could be a Snowy Owl but I can't tell for sure

from the the image supplied.

This is not what I saw. I saw an completely white bird/Owl.

Cheers

Napper

feathered · **Reply #7 on:** February 14, 2012, 05:17:33 PM

There have been at least two in the north end. This one looks like an immature.

little frank · **Reply #8 on:** February 18, 2012, 07:32:37 PM

Saw the immature today near the runway on a rusty light box. Behind the farmers market building. Also 2 A. kestrels and a red tailed hawk.

little frank · **Reply #9 on:** February 19, 2012, 10:49:23 PM

Saw the owl again today on the ground near the runway but close to the big rusty light box....was hard to spot without binoculars as it blended into the surroundings so well.....4 Amer. Kestrels all along the fence in the same area as well as a Red Tailed Hawk.

No sighting of the other all white one.

bird_guy · **Reply #10 on:** February 19, 2012, 11:04:44 PM

One of the adult snowy owls was very close to Wilson avenue for most of the day about 300 ft from the sidewalk at the south end of the airport which made for some decent pics.

I also saw 3 red tail hawks, one kestrel and a mourning dove on the northwest corner of the airport.

Flyingbass · **Reply #11 on:** February 20, 2012, 05:49:15 PM

I got really close (with in 20 ft) to one of the owls on Friday just outside of the sports hangar. Another person from my work took a better picture on Thursday, the picture is too big to upload and I don't have a flicker account, oh well. Saw the usual Kestrel and red tail action, curious if anyone has seen any Mockingbirds hanging about?

Flyingbass

Flyingbass · **Reply #12 on:** February 21, 2012, 03:41:45 PM

Just did a quick tour around the park. Saw a couple of Red Tailed hawks, 4 of 5 mourning doves, 2 cardinals and a large all white Snowy Owl. As I write this I can see it out of my window, it is perched on a streetlamp just off of Cannuck Ave.

Cheers,

Flyingbass

thouc · **Reply #13 on:** February 21, 2012, 05:45:16 PM

What parts of Downsview are publicly accessible?

thouc · **Reply #14 on:** February 22, 2012, 11:55:53 AM

I checked out Downsview today, but couldn't find any Snowy Owl. It was a bit tricky to get around there with all the construction.

Had a close encounter with a juv. Red-tailed Hawk. I was standing beside my car, first watching it go after a squirrel without success and then it perched in a tree. Suddenly it went straight towards me and just over the car. Can't have been more than 1-2 m away from me when it was at its closest.

There was also an adult RTH around.

/Thomas