February 27th 2016
Weather: Sun & cloud - with the icy wind it was a tad cool
Location: Oakville to Burlington
With a few friends - Sonya, Helen, Ken & myself we cruised the lakeshore from the far east of Oakville down as far as Valley Inn, in Burlington in search of some decent birds. Meeting at Bronte Harbour we scanned the harbour for a possible Snowy Owl, but came up negative on that, but the harbour was teaming with several other birds - Mergansers, Scoters, Long-tailed, Buffleheads (I'm probably missing one or two) and the enivitable Canada Goose. There had been reports of White-fronted Goose and a couple of Harlequin Ducks at Gairloch Gardens but when we got there we couldn't spot them and plus it was icy cold in the wind so we didn't linger and instead headed over to Arkendo Park. We were hoping for anything here, and altogether it wasn't a bad stop off with House Finches, Goldfinches, lots of Robins and a fleeting Carolina Wren. Next stop was Burloak - there has been a Snowy here for a few weeks but yet again we missed that guy. However the other Raptors we saw made up for it - Kestrel, Northern Harrier a couple of Red-tails. We did spot one bird that was unlike any of the usual with narrow and swept back wings that had our hearts racing hoping that it was something a bit more exotic, but in the end we decided it was a Red-tail fighting the wind :( . Onwards to La Salle and in amongst the usual Trumpeter Swans & Mallards there was a lone Pintail that made the stop worthwhile. Last stop was Woodlands Cemetary & Valley Inn/Grindstone Creek. No Screech Owls in the Cemetary, but there was a fly past of a couple of Bald Eagles. Grindstone was pretty good with Hermit Thrush, Carolina Wren, Red-bellied Woodpecker and a host of the usual (Cardinals etc) .. A pretty good day for Feb.
Location: Oakville to Burlington
With a few friends - Sonya, Helen, Ken & myself we cruised the lakeshore from the far east of Oakville down as far as Valley Inn, in Burlington in search of some decent birds. Meeting at Bronte Harbour we scanned the harbour for a possible Snowy Owl, but came up negative on that, but the harbour was teaming with several other birds - Mergansers, Scoters, Long-tailed, Buffleheads (I'm probably missing one or two) and the enivitable Canada Goose. There had been reports of White-fronted Goose and a couple of Harlequin Ducks at Gairloch Gardens but when we got there we couldn't spot them and plus it was icy cold in the wind so we didn't linger and instead headed over to Arkendo Park. We were hoping for anything here, and altogether it wasn't a bad stop off with House Finches, Goldfinches, lots of Robins and a fleeting Carolina Wren. Next stop was Burloak - there has been a Snowy here for a few weeks but yet again we missed that guy. However the other Raptors we saw made up for it - Kestrel, Northern Harrier a couple of Red-tails. We did spot one bird that was unlike any of the usual with narrow and swept back wings that had our hearts racing hoping that it was something a bit more exotic, but in the end we decided it was a Red-tail fighting the wind :( . Onwards to La Salle and in amongst the usual Trumpeter Swans & Mallards there was a lone Pintail that made the stop worthwhile. Last stop was Woodlands Cemetary & Valley Inn/Grindstone Creek. No Screech Owls in the Cemetary, but there was a fly past of a couple of Bald Eagles. Grindstone was pretty good with Hermit Thrush, Carolina Wren, Red-bellied Woodpecker and a host of the usual (Cardinals etc) .. A pretty good day for Feb.
February 13th 2016
Weather: Sunny bright and bitterly cold (-27C), warming up to (-19C)
Location: Whitby and surrounding area
I'm a member of a small group of birding ultra-keen diehards - "Ontario Bird Id's & Sightings" and I went on one of their outings to Whitby, Ontario. To be honest I'm not big into group outings, but I thoroughly enjoyed my day out with the group (looking forward to another one). Anyways, we met at Thicksons Woods at 8:00 on a bitterly cold Saturday morning (-27C) and headed into the woods in a search for the Northern Saw-whet & Long-eared Owls that were reported here. We found the Saw-whet pretty quickly, but he was tucked into himself, asleep and so I was a bit disappointed not to get a usable image, but we quite properly left him alone, with the thought we might go back later in the day. The Long-eared wasn't found as was pretty much anything else in the woods, so we headed down to Hall's Rd in search of another Owl - this time a Barred Owl, and again "no coconut", but we were entertained for a little while with feeding Chickadees and the other usuals. Later, we dropped into Lynde Shores Conservation area with no real expectations other than Turkeys and Chickadees, but was pleasantly surprised to see a Rusty Blackbird and a couple of Red-winged Blackbirds as well. Mid afternoon some of us headed back to Thickson's to check on the Saw-whet and were VERY pleasantly surprised to see him/her wide awake and posing for a few shots (again we didn't linger and left after 5 minutes). Was it worth the 90 min drive to Whitby ... Yes!!
Location: Whitby and surrounding area
I'm a member of a small group of birding ultra-keen diehards - "Ontario Bird Id's & Sightings" and I went on one of their outings to Whitby, Ontario. To be honest I'm not big into group outings, but I thoroughly enjoyed my day out with the group (looking forward to another one). Anyways, we met at Thicksons Woods at 8:00 on a bitterly cold Saturday morning (-27C) and headed into the woods in a search for the Northern Saw-whet & Long-eared Owls that were reported here. We found the Saw-whet pretty quickly, but he was tucked into himself, asleep and so I was a bit disappointed not to get a usable image, but we quite properly left him alone, with the thought we might go back later in the day. The Long-eared wasn't found as was pretty much anything else in the woods, so we headed down to Hall's Rd in search of another Owl - this time a Barred Owl, and again "no coconut", but we were entertained for a little while with feeding Chickadees and the other usuals. Later, we dropped into Lynde Shores Conservation area with no real expectations other than Turkeys and Chickadees, but was pleasantly surprised to see a Rusty Blackbird and a couple of Red-winged Blackbirds as well. Mid afternoon some of us headed back to Thickson's to check on the Saw-whet and were VERY pleasantly surprised to see him/her wide awake and posing for a few shots (again we didn't linger and left after 5 minutes). Was it worth the 90 min drive to Whitby ... Yes!!
February 12th 2016
Date February 12th 2016
Weather: Cloudy with a bit of occasional sun, and more blowing snow -8C
Location: Mennonite Country
I've been doing some consulting work for the last three weeks, so time out there taking avian imagery (fancy phrase for my snapshots), has been somewhat sparce. Today, however I was freed up and able to get out. Unfortunately, the weather wasn't cooperating with blowing snow and overcast skies. Anyways .. I headed up into Mennonite country (Elora, Elmira, Arris etc). I headed initially for the Elora Research Centre .. a great location this winter for Snow Buntings. I wasn't disappointed, in fact I was ecstatic .. there were as many Lapland Longspurs,as there were Snow Buntings. There were also several Horned Larks in the group. From here I cruised the back roads and spotted several Red-tailed Hawks, but little else. That changed when I got to a spot near Arris .. a flock of about 300-400 Snow Buntings was foraging along the roadside. The wind and snow made it impossible to get a decent shot of anything, and in fact I don't remember hitting the shutter button.
Weather: Cloudy with a bit of occasional sun, and more blowing snow -8C
Location: Mennonite Country
I've been doing some consulting work for the last three weeks, so time out there taking avian imagery (fancy phrase for my snapshots), has been somewhat sparce. Today, however I was freed up and able to get out. Unfortunately, the weather wasn't cooperating with blowing snow and overcast skies. Anyways .. I headed up into Mennonite country (Elora, Elmira, Arris etc). I headed initially for the Elora Research Centre .. a great location this winter for Snow Buntings. I wasn't disappointed, in fact I was ecstatic .. there were as many Lapland Longspurs,as there were Snow Buntings. There were also several Horned Larks in the group. From here I cruised the back roads and spotted several Red-tailed Hawks, but little else. That changed when I got to a spot near Arris .. a flock of about 300-400 Snow Buntings was foraging along the roadside. The wind and snow made it impossible to get a decent shot of anything, and in fact I don't remember hitting the shutter button.
February 10th 2016
Date February 10th 2016
Weather: Cloudy with a bit of occasional sun, and snow in the PM -2C
Location: A drive up through Elora, Alma, Drayton.
My wife & I, now that we are retired, take the occasional run, in the car, out into the countryside. I try to incorporate a bit of birding on these occasions (no surprise there :) ), so on Wednesday we headed up into Mennonite country. Our first stop was at the Beef Cattle facility near Elora, but was disappointed that the Snow Buntings were not around, but there was several Horned Larks along the roadside (I counted 7), so I was able fire off a few shots. After several back roads we ended up in Drayton for a gas fill up and lunch (mediocre) and then because the snow was getting heavier we started to head back to KW. At a spot just east of Moorefield we spotted a flock of Snow Buntings with several Horned Larks in the group. Snow by this time was blowing and making any shots difficult, but was a pleasure to see these beauties anyways. Unfortunately no Laplands were spotted with the flock (that I could see)
Weather: Cloudy with a bit of occasional sun, and snow in the PM -2C
Location: A drive up through Elora, Alma, Drayton.
My wife & I, now that we are retired, take the occasional run, in the car, out into the countryside. I try to incorporate a bit of birding on these occasions (no surprise there :) ), so on Wednesday we headed up into Mennonite country. Our first stop was at the Beef Cattle facility near Elora, but was disappointed that the Snow Buntings were not around, but there was several Horned Larks along the roadside (I counted 7), so I was able fire off a few shots. After several back roads we ended up in Drayton for a gas fill up and lunch (mediocre) and then because the snow was getting heavier we started to head back to KW. At a spot just east of Moorefield we spotted a flock of Snow Buntings with several Horned Larks in the group. Snow by this time was blowing and making any shots difficult, but was a pleasure to see these beauties anyways. Unfortunately no Laplands were spotted with the flock (that I could see)
February 6th 2016
Date: February 6th 2016
Weather: Sun & Cloud +2C
Location: Ontario Lakeshore
Before I begin today's commentary I would like to say that I've been doing this blog for three years this month. It's been lots of fun and I hope to continue for some time to come. I have never openly published or advertised it's presence, but maybe in the very near future I will submit the rest of the birding world to my corny ramblings!!
Weather has a bit barmy over the last week - I've lived in Ontario for the last 30 years and I don't think I've encountered such mild weather at this time of year, in all that time, but hey! I'm not complaining - you don't have to shovel sunshine ;). Weather is good but birding not so!! Mild temperatures seem to be spreading out the birds, making them harder to find & photograph. Today Helen (a fellow birder) and I headed out to try and find some Owls. There had been a Short-eared & a Saw-whet reported in the Oakville area, so with great hopes and intensions we check out the Saw-whet location, as reported on ebird, on Appleby Line, and then over to Hydro Road in Mississauga for the Short-eared. Both locations were negative - not good. Between Appleby & Hydro Road we checked out Bronte Harbour and there was a few birds around - Mergansers (both types), Buffleheads, Long-tailed Ducks and the inevitable Canada Geese. Other stops were Lakeside Park in Mississauga (other than the usual there were a few Gadwal) and then Arkendo Park area, but this was completely dead (last week was pretty productive - oh well that's birding!).
Weather: Sun & Cloud +2C
Location: Ontario Lakeshore
Before I begin today's commentary I would like to say that I've been doing this blog for three years this month. It's been lots of fun and I hope to continue for some time to come. I have never openly published or advertised it's presence, but maybe in the very near future I will submit the rest of the birding world to my corny ramblings!!
Weather has a bit barmy over the last week - I've lived in Ontario for the last 30 years and I don't think I've encountered such mild weather at this time of year, in all that time, but hey! I'm not complaining - you don't have to shovel sunshine ;). Weather is good but birding not so!! Mild temperatures seem to be spreading out the birds, making them harder to find & photograph. Today Helen (a fellow birder) and I headed out to try and find some Owls. There had been a Short-eared & a Saw-whet reported in the Oakville area, so with great hopes and intensions we check out the Saw-whet location, as reported on ebird, on Appleby Line, and then over to Hydro Road in Mississauga for the Short-eared. Both locations were negative - not good. Between Appleby & Hydro Road we checked out Bronte Harbour and there was a few birds around - Mergansers (both types), Buffleheads, Long-tailed Ducks and the inevitable Canada Geese. Other stops were Lakeside Park in Mississauga (other than the usual there were a few Gadwal) and then Arkendo Park area, but this was completely dead (last week was pretty productive - oh well that's birding!).
