The Bohemian Waxwings and Pine Grosbeaks have cleaned the fruit from the large crabapple tree at my place and only a few birds return now to pick at the remains. In fact, the large flocks of waxwings and grosbeaks in Orillia have moved on and it is now difficult to even find the small flocks that remain. Bald Eagles can be seen on the waterfront and the first Glaucous Gull showed up this week at the landfill site but only the large flocks of Common Redpolls remain. The waxwings fed briefly from American Bittersweet and buckthorn after running out of the smaller crabapples before moving on. Several trees are loaded with the larger crabapples but the birds seem to ignore this food source. It is not worth the drive to Orillia now to see waxwings and grosbeaks but I will let you know when and if the first Great Gray Owls arrive in town. This should be between Christmas and New Years judging from other years. That is if they arrive this winter at all but conditions seem to be favourable from reports that I have read.
Bob Bowles Orillia, Ontario _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list [email protected] For instructions to join or leave ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdssetup.php ONTBIRDS Guidelines may be viewed at http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdsguide.php
