Some good winter sparrows have survived the big chill that kicked off 2010: two
White-Crowns have been wintering with a flock of Tree Sparrows along Devald
Road in the Holland Marsh for at least two weeks while two White-Throated
Sparrows are still making appearances at Lorena Campbell's feeders in Willow
Beach near Jackson's Point.
Snow Buntings are moving about in good numbers in the Holland Marsh - up to 400
birds have been observed in the past week (though not always together). The
Snowy Owl reported by Skip Shand in the vicinity of Woodchopper's Lane and Jane
St. on Jan. 6 was still around on the weekend. Interestingly, I assumed this
would be the heavily barred individual I have observed through much of December
west of Dufferin Street but it is not.
I don't know where "White Mask" has gone since the deep freeze of Jan. 2nd but
I'm still looking for him.
A pure white Snowy was out in the fields west of Bathurst St. N. on Saturday,
well away from the road and only recognizable through a spotting scope.. This
is the same area (north of Queensville Sdrd. in NW Holland Landing) where Robin
Lawson had an immature Red-Winged Blackbird on Jan. 2. The latter has not been
rediscovered to date.
East of Aurora, Al Johnston's heated pond has kept three Wood Ducks happy
through the cold weather. The Woodies (two drakes and one hen) were
still visiting his place on Bethesda Road near Lemonville as recently
as yesterday.
Ron Fleming, Newmarket
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