Hi Ontbirders: I visited the great gray owl location at the Rockcliffe Parkway at Green's Creek late today. I finally counted all 4 great gray owls. Yay :-) One was closer to the front of the field and the other three were at the back where the trees are. Check my map linked below. It was great to see all four owls and they look content perched there when I arrived. It is possible they may be here until sometime in March when they fly back north. On Greenland Road in Dunrobin four winters ago, we had a great gray owl stay into the first week of April. You may find this map helpful although you don't really need it. Just look for the people. There have been many people visiting for the past 3 to 4 weeks. I want to share with fellow Ontbirders and those visiting from out of province and the USA (a number have been up here already including from Florida and elsewhere). http://www.pbase.com/golfpic/image/148451934/original I have good news for those planning to visit. The sidewalk is now plowed so there is at least a 6 foot wide path to walk back to the owls from the parking lot along the Rockcliffe Parkway. The well worn paths in the field are frozen over making it very easy to walk to the owls. No snowshoes required unless maybe you venture off those paths. You cannot park along (even off the side) the Rockclife Parkway. Just drive 1 kilometer past the owl location and park at NCC parking lot P8. The parking lot is on the same side of the road as the owls.
Photo of a great gray owl taken this afternoon perched atop a pine tree. About 40 yards away to the left is a second great gray owl. Then a third owl joined them. The fourth one I saw walking back to the exit. http://www.pbase.com/golfpic/image/148473482/original An infomative story about the return of the Great Grey Owls in Tuesday's Ottawa Citizen newspaper which can also be read online at the following link: http://www.ottawacitizen.com/technology/Return+great+grey+owls/7848863/story.html Two sites that I and other birders and those who enjoy photographing nature/birds like to visit are: A wealth of info on where to go birding in the Ottawa and surrounding area. Thanks Larry for setting up this site that many still use especially beginning birders and those who just enjoy birds. www.neilyworld.com One of the top birders around and a very nice person. http://brucedilabio.blogspot.ca/ W. Hum http://www.pbase.com/golfpic/some_recent_shots Directions: >From the west end or downtown Ottawa, go east on the Queensway and take the >left fork toward Orleans. Exit at the Montreal Road exit. Turn right at St >Joseph Blvd. Continue along St Joseph Blvd. until you come to the lights where >you turn left onto the Rockcliffe Parkway (at this intersection on St Joseph >Blvd., the Rockcliffe Parkway is on the left and Bearbrook Road is to the >right). Continue along the Rockcliffe Parkway. The first bridge you cross is >the one going over the highway. Continue quite a ways along and the second >bridge you see is the one that crosses over Green's Creek. The owls are >located in the field on the left side of that bridge. It is public NCC park >land so open to all. However, do not park alongside the road there or you may >get ticketed. Instead, drive 1 kilometer past that spot and park at parking >lot P8 on your left. Then walk back to the bridge. _______________________________________________ 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/
