The morning fog limited viewing, but I manafged to see 2 Great Gray Owls before 8AM on Lakeridge Rd., and then just before sunset several of us witnessed a GGO hunting successfully from a large tree between Hall's Rd. and Lakeridge Rd. A Barred Owl spent his early hours hunting--with success on 1 out ot 3 trials--very large vole was eventually devoured after some help from one foot and tossing and turning of the head. Just after swallowing he flew into a nearby tree, whereupon another Barred came in for a 2-sec. nudging tussle. The bird which had taken the vole then flew up to rest for the remainder of the day in a tree very near the roadway. A Great Horned Owl was seen to the south of the north platform in mid-afternoon. Geoff has referred to the Sawwhet and the Long-eared Owl. Re. the latter I still feel that some photographers do not realize a stress sign--that of shrinking in length and width.
At the feeder area on Hall's Rd.--1 Rusty Blackbird, 4 Cowbirds, 3 White-throated Sparrows, 1 House Finch among others; and at the platform-- 2 Swamp Sparrows, 7 Song Sparrows, 1 White-throated Sparrow. Hall's Rd. is 1 block east of Lakeridge Rd. (in southwest Whitby); turn off Victoria St., go south toward the lake. 1 block further east along Victoria is the Lynde Shores C.A. parking lot. Doug Lockrey, Whitby -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.0.300 / Virus Database: 265.8.5 - Release Date: 03/02/2005
