[Ontbirds]Northern Ontario Sightings

[Jean Iron]

I just had a phone call from Erwin Meissner of Massey, which is west 
of Sudbury. Erwin mentioned some interesting recent sightings. He's 
not on email.

Sharp-tailed Grouse: Nine were displaying on top of the icy snow near 
Gore Bay on Manitoulin Island. Numbers will increase.

Great Gray Owl: There have been several recent reports, including two 
on Manitoulin Island. Most Great Grays are being seen for only one 
day suggesting that they are returning north. I wonder where they wintered.

Great Horned Owl: A pair of Great Horned Owls is using an old raven's 
nest. One bird is a pale northern Snyder's subspecies 
(scalariventris) and the other is a darker southern subspecies 
(virginianus). This mixed pair is not unexpected because subspecies 
freely interbreed. Great Horned Owls prey heavily on Snowshoe Hares 
in northern Ontario.

Most Pine Grosbeaks departed northward about two weeks ago.

Bobcat and Lynx: Erwin has a Bobcat that comes to his bird feeder at 
night. It took some suet and a few days ago he gave it a road-killed 
Ruffed Grouse. Bobcats are rare in Ontario. Most are found along the 
north shore of Lake Huron. I've also had reports that Lynx may be 
fairly common this winter in parts of northern Ontario. Erwin 
mentioned that Snowshoe Hares are common in Massey. Hares also must 
be common in areas reporting Lynx.

Good birding,

Ron Pittaway
Minden/Toronto ON
jeaniron AT sympatico.ca