A first winter Harris's Sparrow has been visiting the feeder of Martha Sova for about two weeks but not reported or identified until recently. This is at 4393 Fairgrounds Road just west of Orillia and north off of highway 12. I saw the bird this morning and the pattern is that it only visits the feeder early in the day. It was with 3 to 4 American Tree Sparrows and 4 Dark-eyed Juncos. Three of the juncos were Slate-colored form but the fourth had pink flanks, a brown back and grey head as in the pink-sided Oregon form. A Northern Shrike was also watching this feeder near the field at the back of the house.
A report from Carolyn Healy yesterday who lives just off of Muley Point Road wanting to know if Great Gray Owls had young at this time of year since she had a small owl with yellow eyes sitting in the open in a deciduous tree in her yard. She also had three Great Gray Owls in her yard at the same time to compare with and felt that they looked similar. The owl had flown before I arrived but not before she had taken several photos. She had them developed yesterday and dropped them by my home last night. They were several good photos of a Boreal Owl. The owl has not been seen again today. This is the second report of a Boreal Owl this winter from the Orillia area. More Barred Owls seem to be joining the Great Gray Owls in the Muley Point area. A male Varied Thrush continues to visit the feeder of Gloria and Lorne Braithwaite at 94 Tamarack in Big Cedar Estates west of Orillia. The European Goldfinch is still visiting the feeder of Judy and Lou Probst at Carden. Also the Great Gray Owls seem to be still increasing with waves coming in about every two weeks (Dec. 26-7, Jan. 6-7, Jan. 24-25) so we now have over 200 in Simcoe County and it is possible to view up to 30 around Muley Point road every evening. Bob Bowles Orillia, Ontario
