Hi All! While enduring yet another icy week, it has been a really good time in the Pelee Birding area for observing owls. In the park, there is a pair of Great Horned Owls, just north of Blue Heron picnic area on the edge of the marsh that have been present and visible during the day, most days this past week. There is also an Eastern Screech Owl along the main road, roosting in a hole in a Hackberry tree, north of Dune picnic area - you can either park there or at the boardwalk and walk the bicycle trail to the bench between the two locations - look across the road for the hackberry tree with the hole and you should be able to see it.
I also had a Short-eared Owl just outside the park on Friday evening. It was hunting over a field on Bevel Line, just north of the Pelee Days Inn, before the go-kart track and mini-golf place. This is the first short-eared that I have seen in the area this winter. Our feeder continues to be a hopping place - in the last week and a half we have had a regular Fox Sparrow, Eastern Towhee and occassional visits from a Hermit Thrush and Grey Catbird. There has been a couple of sightings of Brewer's Blackbirds this winter and there were Rusty Blackbirds present on the weekend. The feeder will continue in front of the Visitor Centre until March, when we finish up our participation in Project Feederwatch. Point Pelee National Park of Canada is located 5 km south of Leamington. Bevel Line can be reached from Leamington by following Erie Street (Hwy 77) south to County Road 20 (Seacliff Drive). Turn left at this intersection and continue on Cty Rd 20 for approx 1 km - you will see a road veering to your right - this is Bevel Line and it will lead you directly to the park gate. Good birding! Sarah Sarah Rupert Leamington, Ontario "Sarah Rupert" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Visit http://www.ofo.ca/ontbirdsguide.htm for information on leaving and joining the list. As well as general information and content guidelines.
