At least 4 Great Gray Owls were seen BEFORE 7:15a.m., Mar.15, on Shoal Pt., Lakeridge and Hall's Rds. Also a barred owl was on the north pathway around 7:45a.m. The last cloudy day was Mar.12--8 owls remained hunting in the fileds all morning. Since then the days have been sunny--only the occasional owl shows itself. They have been reappearing at dusk.
Today a male Pileated Woodecker had a tree-ripping time, oblivious to many people watching him widen a huge hole in a tree overhanging Hall's Rd.--he remained intent for over an hour, even defensively thrusting his long wings against the trunk when a Red Squirrel ran up the tree to investigate. Meanwhile, a wonderfully-attired Mink left his tree-hole home several times to run along the snow in the ditch, using a culvert to cross the road. Other birds seen --Snow Goose (fly-over, and on the lake), Long-tailed Ducks, Goldeneyes & Red-breasted Mergansers on the lake at the foot of Hall's Rd.; at the top end of the road--Sharp-shinned Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Kestrel, AND, not reported for a month or so --a Rough-legged Hawk. On or near the north pathway--White-breasted Nuthatch, Swamp Sparrow, Song Sparrow, a few Tree Sparrows (are they, alas, moving out!!!), Red-winged Blackbirds and Cowbirds. Exit the 401 at Salem Rd,. (in Ajax), south to Bayly, east to a) the first traffic light--Shoal Pt. Rd.---south down past a Stop Sign, looking along the roadside and field trees; b) the third traffic light-LakeRidge Rd., or c) to the next street--Hall's Rd. Doug Lockrey, Whitby
