Snowy Owl! Downsview

[newfoundlander61]

Snowy owl it is in the pic.

[Flyingbass]

Downsview is scheduled to officially open on July 1st, but there are sections of the park that are currently open to the public.   All of the roads are open which gives you access to good deal of the park.   The road along the airport is very reliable for kestrel and red tail aciton, it is also where I have seen the snowy owl the most.  After July 1st the the forest and the lake will be open, that is where most of the song birds will be found.  

Cheers, Flyingbass

[thouc]

Thanks for the info!

[Napper]

Hey

A Co-worker said he spotted a "small all white Snowy owl" near Transit rd and Wilson rd inside the fence this morning on his way in to work.

I had not mentioned anything about Snowy's to him. I am not sure what time he arrives but it is probably close to 7:00 am.

I am there far too early to see anything flying about unless its snowing (5:40 am)

Napper

[Napper]

Hey!

This morning 1 Coyote standing on top of a berm as the sun was rising was a cool silhouette.
Looked big and healthy.

At 9:00 am Adult all white Snowy  Flew North west from our hangers, over the Tracks toward the new large
earthen sound barriers along the railway.

At 12:20 another Coyote along the runway looked skinny and possibly has Mange.

Napper  

[Flyingbass]

Hello,

A large white Snowy Owl is perched on top of a lamp post as I write this (that is his usual spot).   The lamp post is in the middle of a field (currently under construction) to your left as you walk down Canuck Ave from John Dury road.   I have also seen 4 kestrels and some red tail hawk action.   I was just wondering if anyone has seen any snow buntings in Downsview, if so wear?   Also today on the air stip I saw a raptor with a dark front perched on a post.  I didn't have my binoculars so I couldn't get a closer look, bigger than a kestrel but smaller than a Red Tail, any ideas?

Thanks, Flyingbass

[thouc]

I guess a Cooper's Hawk could appear dark depending on the light.

Rough-legged Hawk has a dark morph, but it's the same size as a Red-tail.

/Thomas

[Napper]

Also today on the air stip I saw a raptor with a dark front perched on a post

Flying bass!  Tuesday I saw something similar on the "windsock" at south end of runway 5:40 am "very large"

Later in the day I saw a large bird on top of one of the lights at the soccer field.

Today a very large all dark bird on top of a railing on one of the old assembly fixtures by the back fence near the soccer dome.

I swear it was a turkey vulture, I didn't see it  fly-off.

Does the wildlife rehab centre release birds locally?

napper


Snow buntings, yes over near the new ponds.   Not this week thou

[little frank]

Went to Canuck near where you saw the snowy at about 4:15 PM but no snowy. Did see what looked like a great horned owl however in the trees. It was much too large for a red tail, but way too dark for the snowy. Other than that did see the ususal red tails, Canada Geese and kestrals.

Managed to see the female or juvenile (not sure which) about 10 feet away on the fence close to the "Hanger" on my drive out of the park. Was nice of it to pose for me so I got a great picture.

[feathered]

Does the wildlife rehab centre release birds locally?

They're released close to where they were found, by law, as well as seasonally with regards to migrants.