Late this afternoon I had a female Pileated Woodpecker posing nicely for almost an hour, moving between the forest section that is bisected by the bike trail through the lower part of the Etobicoke Creek/Etobicoke Valley Park. This is rather unusual for the area and I cannot remember if or when I have ever seen this species in southern Etobicoke before? Lambton Woods is perhaps the next closest place I have seen them this year. Perhaps 300 meters south of the bottom of the "big hill" as we locals call it, that comes down from the end of Horner Ave. there were a pair of Eastern Schreech Owl dueting across the creek which could be heard even over the running creek water. This was at 3:45 p.m. and again was very unusual given that it was still perfectly light out and that it isn't breeding season for these suckers. There is a resident pair here though. The Eared Grebe was still posing very close to shore at the west end of Col. Sam when I left it with Dave Hallet and the rest of the T.O.C. bird walk participants at perhaps 2:15 p.m. Directions: Exit QEW at Brown's Line. Drive south to Horner Ave. and make a right (west). At end of Horner is an access trail to the ravine. Parking is along the neighbourhood streets. _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to [email protected] For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
