You have a good chance of seeing an owl at Downsview Park in winter but it is not guaranteed.

This morning I met a gentleman who had driven all the way from Ottawa to see a Long-eared Owl. After two hours of wandering, he hadn’t succeeded and neither did this morning’s group.

In fact, we saw one owl but it was a very close Short-eared Owl and everyone had a good look.

13 to 17 inches in height, Short-eared Owls allow very close approach although I wouldn’t go closer than about 5 metres. .

Today’s group:

Park scenes:

Other birds:

MAILBOX

Hi Miles,
I enclose a picture. This was taken last week by a friend’s Mother, this is her 19th floor balcony!

NATURE POETRY

Announced by all the trumpets of the sky,
Arrives the snow, and, driving o’er the fields,
Seems nowhere to alight: the whited air
Hides hills and woods, the river, and the heaven,
And veils the farm-house at the garden’s end.        – Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82)

Miles Hearn