More Owls

February 19, 2017

A Great Gray was reported several times on March Valley Road.  An earlier try was unsuccessful, but this time, a few cars were parked on the side of the road and birders were in the adjacent field.  We joined them and looked where the were pointing their cameras, but saw nothing.  It was well camouflaged perched in plain sight.  Soon we saw it - what a beauty.  There was no baiting or disrespectful behaviour, thank goodness.

We decided to head for the far east end to look for Snowy Owls.  We patrolled all the back roads without success, although we did see many Horned Larks and Snow Buntings.  We also spotted a couple of Rough-legged Hawks and a Common Raven with a dead bird it had either captured or scavenged.

February 20, 2017

A fresh report of a Snowy Owl in the west end sent us out again.  We tried Roger Stevens Drive and Moodie Drive without success.  Finally we spotted one on Barnsdale Rd.  We cruised the back roads and had good views of more Horned Larks and Snow Buntings, as well as a surprising number of American Robins.

February 22, 2017

We decided to try for the Eastern Bluebird reported on Malakoff Rd, but had no luck.  Taking back roads home, we again passed Barnsdale Rd, and our Snowy Owl was closer this time on a significant hump.  A pickup truck with three young locals stopped and were thrilled to see the owl through our binoculars.