Unsubstantiated but compelling reports of a Great Gray Owl in Holland Landing over the past two weeks were finally confirmed Saturday when Dan Stuckey observed one along Bathurst Street north of the Queensville Sdrd and south of Hochreiter Rd. Attempts to rediscover the bird on Sunday and Monday (by a few local birders including me) were unsuccessful but there are extensive wooded areas on both sides of Bathurst for this owl to roost in. For birders in the GTA with an adventurous spirit, the rare visitor might be worth looking for. Bathurst Street runs uninterrupted from Lake Ontario all the way up to Newmarket but then ends a few kms north of Green Lane. To access the northern extension of Bathurst you have to jog east to Yonge Street and follow it north of Newmarket toward Bradford. Drive past the lights at the main Holland Landing turnoff (there is a Brooklin Concrete property on the east side of the road as well as a hotel) and continue down a long grade to the next set of lights just southeast of Bradford. Turn right onto Bathurst St. N., take a quick left, cross the RR tracks, then follow Bathurst steadily northward. Once you get past Queensville Sdrd. (which runs east into Holland Landing) start looking for big shapes in the trees. I found two Red-tails, a Pileated Woodpecker, several squirrel's nests, and three different porcupines but no GGOW in three attempts. For anyone who tries, I wish you better luck. Please let us "locals" know if you have any success and - hopefully needless to say - don't stress the bird by getting too close if you do happen to rediscover it. Ron Fleming, Newmarket _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list [email protected] For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
