[Ontbirds]Great Gray Owl, River Rd Ottawa

[Langis Sirois]

   Hi all.

   While  having  my  car  serviced yesterday I talked to a member of the
   team  there, Todd Davy, who is interested in birds.  Todd told me that
   on Sunday afternoon, April 6, he saw and photographed a Great Gray Owl
   which  was  sitting  on a utility wire along River Rd South of Ottawa;
   last  night  he  sent  me  photos  that  he  had taken.  Todd is not a
   subsriber  to  this  forum  and  we  agreed  that  I  would  relay the
   information.

   I checked the  area  this morning and again in late afternoon, with no
   luck.   There is good hunting habitat for this bird at the place where
   Todd saw it and around that area, but, given that this is already late
   for  this  bird to linger around and the very mild weather we have had
   since Sunday I think it is much likely that this bird has moved on.

   In  any case, here are directions for people who would like to try for
   this  bird.    Take Riverside Dr. in the South direction and drive all
   the  way  to  the  end  of  that road when it joins River Rd, past the
   Ottawa  International  Airport;  keep  right  on River Rd and drive an
   additional 4  or  5 kilometers; you will then see a small mall with an
   Independant  Grocer  on you left and Earl Armstrong Rd thereafter; the
   bird  was seen sitting on a utility wire along River Road about half a
   kilometer South of that area.

   Good luck and good birding.

   Langis Sirois, Ottawa