Some Birds and other Creatures at Amherst island: Dec. 2020

The biggest attraction here for birders is the Owl Woods:

This was my 2nd visit here and I have not yet had the good fortune to spot an owl despite lots of looking. This has been a good year overall, however, for my seeing owls and here are a few of them:

Saw-whet Owl
Snowy Owl
Great Horned Owl
Barred Owl

We rarely see Rough-legged Hawks in the Toronto area and I was happy to find a few at great distance today. You can just make out the black belly and black on the wings and tail.

Rough-legged Hawk
Rough-legged Hawk
Rough-legged Hawk
Rough-legged Hawk

Other birds:

Starlings
Mute Swans
American Kestrel
White-breasted Nuthatch
Black-capped Chickadee
Black-capped Chickadee
Canada Geese
Canada Geese
Mourning Doves
Purple Finch (female)
Purple Finch (male)
Purple Finch (male)

Other life:

Red Squirrel

NATURE POETRY

Behold, the morning-glory’s sky-blue cup
Is mine wherewith to drink the nectar up 
That morning spills of silver dew,
And song upon the winds that woo
And sigh their vows
Among the boughs!                                  – Alexander Posey (1873–1908)

Miles Hearn

3 thoughts on “Some Birds and other Creatures at Amherst island: Dec. 2020

  1. Wendy Trueman

    Wonderful post, Miles. Owls (Snowy!!), hawks and much more. I’ll be heading to Amherst Island some day soon, thanks to you.

    Reply
  2. Susan Richardson

    Miles – glad you got there and saw birds. Looks better than the first time and some sunshine too. I hope you can go again in later Jan, or Feb and for sure you will see the Great Gray owl , perhaps on a fence post along the 2nd Concession – and that means quite near the road and many Snowies especially at the East end of the island along Front road and then heading around the bend southwards towards South Shore Rd. where all the bird boxes are.

    Best – Susan

    Reply

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