Long-eared Owl at Downsview Park: January 12, 2022

This morning was the first walk that I have led at Downsview Park though I have visited the park frequently in order to learn where the various trails are.

Long-eared, Short-eared, Barred and Saw-whet Owls are reported here fairly frequently so we were hoping to find one of these.

For a considerable length of time, we were unsuccessful although we saw Red-tailed Hawks several times.

Red-tailed Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk

Other birds:

American Robin
Hairy Woodpecker (female)
Mourning Dove
Hairy Woodpecker (female)
Hairy Woodpecker (female)

Just as we were entering the parking lot at the conclusion of our walk, a kind passer-by informed us of the exact location of a Long-eared Owl. These birds roost in the inner areas of conifers and can be difficult to spot so we were grateful for this information.

Long-eared Owl
Long-eared Owl

Some botany:

Bur Oak (Quercus macrocarpa)
White Birch (Betula papyrifera)
Nannyberry (Viburnum lentago)
Canada Goldenrod (Solidago canadense)
White Spruce (Picea glauca)
Linden (Tilia cordata)
Swamp White Oak (Quercus bicolor)
Swamp White Oak (Quercus bicolor)


This morning’s group:

MAILBOX

Snowy Owls Aren’t Starving: Two Canadian Farmers Help Bust a Pervasive Myth 

Snowy Owls Aren’t Starving: Two Canadian Farmers Help Bust a Pervasive Myth | All About Birds All About Birds

NATURE POETRY

A cold coming we had of it
Just the worst time of the year     
For a journey, and such a journey:     
The ways deep and the weather sharp,     
The very dead of winter.                              – T.S. Eliot (1888–1965)

Miles Hearn

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