Bouncy Great Grey

The lingering Great Grey Owl at Hudson was in its favourite tree this evening. The bitter wind that tortured us over the Easter break had subsided and with it -20 wind chill.

On arrival the bird greeted me with its usual indifference so I ventured out into the field, trying to change the angle to lessen the effect of the sinking sun. The bird showed no sign of noticing me so I took a few photos hoping for a full frontal. Suddenly it started to bob its head, range finding a sound beyond my hearing. I'd just started to snap again when it launched from its perch off across the field.

Thinking that was it for the day, I was captivated when it twisted in mid air 30m away and hit the ice crusted snow with enough force to cause it to bounce about a foot high. It settled onto the ice looking disappointed at having made no headway. It lingered a while so I started switching from auto to manual hoping to get an edge, it then effortlessly flapped back to its perch and resumed its vigil, almost deliberately turning its back on me in disdain.

In the fading light I eased my way back to the road having had one of those wildlife experiences that linger long. This has been a lousy winter weather wise and we are supposed to have a bit more yet. Events like this take the edge of the winter very nicely.

OK so this is the tamest ever Snowy Owl!

We took another trip out Sunday into whitest Ontario in search of a confiding immature Snowy Owl. When we go there it was 350m away sheltering under a shrub! Despite my age I put the big boots on and started out across the snow covered field. It was not too bad, a few bits were three feet deep but mostly I was able to propel my lithe body over the snow towards the bird.

As I got to within 100m it showed the tell tale signs of moving, a fluff up here, a stretch there. My experience around St-Clet is that they are ready to scoot when they do that, but this one surprised me a little by scooting in my direction and landing within 30m. I steadily stalked it using all available cover (none) getting to within about 10m, it cautiously ignored me. I then took around 250 shots, some of which are below.

When another guy arrived to photograph it he just walked up beside me and started clicking. As I left he edged nearer so I waited hoping for flight shots, I had not bargained for the bird just walking away from him when he got close enough to smell its breath. Thanks Darren for directions.

On the way out we had diverted via Hudson hoping that the Great Grey Owl might show again but no luck there, nearby a nice flock of 60 or so Bohemian Waxwings sat trilling in a roadside clump of trees.

So below my shots in no particular order, I thought I'd put the one with the photographer in for perspective. Do click on the for that 'in your face' experience.

Lucky Owl

Having just dropped off my tax documents for the annual pay all you earn session, I thought I'd go out looking for Snowy Owls via the fields west of Hudson. The Great Grey Owls there had not been reported for a couple of weeks but off-chance often works and so it did this time. One owl was reasonably close to the road although slightly obscured so I took a few quick photos.

During the time I was there, parked on the road but well visible, three cars cruised by and were not in the slightest bit inconvenienced. Unfortunately the fourth car was a Police cruiser piloted by someone's twelve year old daughter. She told me 'mister you are blocking the road'. I tried a little logic but she probably dozed off during that class so I had to move. My last gambit was to offer her a view through a scope but she declined, a future Police wildlife liaison officer in the making I think.

The area around St-Clet was Snowy Owl-less but 170+ Horned Larks indicated a spring build up, 70+ Snow Buntings were in their roost and a couple of Pine Grosbeaks were at a feeder.

I tried St-Lazare sand pits but the snow banks are now over six feet high so only two tree top dwelling Northern Grey Shrikes were seen.

It was good to get out for a few hours birding, especially as last weekend was spent shoveling snow off the roof. We now have a 14 foot high mountain of the stuff running the entire length of the house and I can't see some of the feeders, disaster!

The tamest Snowy Owl ever

We did a little trip west into Ontario to look for Snowy Owls in the Casselman area. After seeing a lot of snow we eventually came across this female atop a utility pole so we parked a respectable distance and took a few snaps. After twenty minutes or so the other car bound birder present left so we drove a little closer, and snapped. Then, because we were facing the wrong way, we drove past the bird, turned and parked, and snapped.

During all of this activity the only thing the bird did, apart from swivel its head, was do a dump, leaving a rather pleased look on its face (see if you can spot the post dump photo).

Eventually I got out of the car and approached cautiously, ready to freeze at the first sign of disturbing her, hoping she might look down. Soon I was directly under the bird who's indifference to me was bordering on the insulting. Other cars passed (and slowed down in that Canadian way they do in case anything interesting was happening but rarely actually asking what) and the owl just sat there.

Using my full repetoire of proven noises that attract owls' attention I retreated deflated, it cast a passing gance but, with me being relatively fur free, decided I was not worth the fuss of a stare. She was still there when we left.

On the way home we drove around Hudson a bit, finding a small flock of Pine Grosbeaks in the top of a tree. Not great subjects for a photo at that range but what the hell. No sign of yesterday's Great Grey Owl but it was pretty bright and we only looked from the road.

Click on the first owl shot for the full effect.

No really, it is a Great Grey Owl!

In what looked like perfect Great Grey Owling weather I risked life and lung walking the tracks west of Hudson this afternoon hoping to locate and perhaps photograph one of the two Great Grey Owls in residence. The walk ended up being just that but with a small flock of Bohemian Waxwings with a few Cedars thrown in and an inquisitive Northern Grey Shrike as compensation.

The shrike actually flew off the top of a tall tree and landed in the bushes beside me, it then ran through the bushes in the same way that I once saw one chasing an American Tree Sparrow around our garden.

After the walk I tried the roadsides west of Finnegan's Market and viola, there was a distant bird, so I took a distant shot, some might call it atmospheric, I'd call it garbage but then I'm not artistic.

The only bird event during the week was the return of Peregrines to the Ille Aux Tortes bridge which I cross twice a day, those dozy pigeons will be getting their spring wake up call anytime now.

Below un-treated, then one with auto-levels, either way they are aweful and the shrikes not much better c'est la vie.