BIRDQUEST2004

On a recent trip to Wolfe Island, we had a very obliging Snowy Owl, sat and gave us a chance for a few photos by the side of the road.

Not much to tell, drove the roads and there it was….thats how its done, no secrets.  Seek and ye shall find.

A few weeks later, on the way back from Amherst Island, on March 8th.  We had just enough time to check Rushmore for an over wintering Snowy Owl.  This Owl has proven difficult to get close up views.   He prefers to sit atop distant hydro poles, visible only from the road.   We checked the owls usual perch and were unable to see any sign of him.  Driving further down the Rushmore, we saw him atop a pole right beside the road.   With darkness approaching, I upped my camera’s iso and snapped a few images.   The best is below.

Ciao for now…..

Today I decided to try a new owl finding method.  There are things to look for when searching, like pellets or whitewash but that doesn’t always mean you’ll find the owl.  Sometimes at night listening for their calls is also a good way.  I have tried most of these methods from time to time and have been successful.

Today I tried a new tactic…Looking for the tracks,  I don’t mean owl tracks I mean people tracks.

I followed the paths at the Old Quarry Trail near Eagleson and Robertson Roads and anytime I saw lots of tracks leading into the trees I followed them.  Well it didn’t take long, I found deer, turkeys and lots of people actually standing in the tracks..go figure.  Then I came to a spot where it looked like caribou had just migrated through and followed it into a stand of Tamarac trees, looked up and there it was the Northern Hawk Owl.

It was amazing, my method worked, I had found a new stratagy for locating owls…just follow the humans.  Why didn’t I think of it before.

Thanks Rick,  for helping me follow the tracks.  At times the 200 different footprints were hard to decipher but we survived.  I think I saw some OFNC prints, Nikon prints and even some Canon prints.

Oh yes I even found some lab mice carcasses, this is one content Owl…..but its another one to add to my 2013 list.  Yes I am a birder and lister.

No mice were sacrificed (not that I’m anti-baiting, I just wouldn’t do it) in the taking of this image and no tree limbs were removed.  I just moved around until I had an unobstructed view.

So to birders and photogs alike, it doesn’t matter if you don’t post the locations of birds or not…just look for tracks.

Ciao for now….