7 out of 10

It has been far too long since I've posted anything here, but it's also been far too long since I've managed to get out and get some decent shots. So here you are...a bit of a story and few shots from today.

This morning I was up bright and early at 3:15 a.m. (As my friend Ethan says, the most important tool in a photographer's toolkit is an alarm clock...and I had three set this morning.) I headed out in the blowing snow and gusting winds towards Carp. We left for Amherst Island at 4:45 a.m. in a race to catch the 7:30 a.m. ferry crossing to Amherst Island. We made it with time for a nap even after turning around to catch a Great Horned Owl on County Road 4 near Taylor Kidd Road. My first lifer of the day.

By 8:00 a.m. we were scouring The Owl Woods to see what was about. Attempt 1 found us Long-eared Owls, Short-eared Owls and a single Northern Saw-whet Owl. Disappointment! Bruce was certain the Boreal Owl was around and couldn't imagine where all the NSWO had gone.

After a few snacks we headed back in for a second attempt. After 4 hours of searching, we had uncovered three more NSWO (total 4) and Bruce said, "There's just one more tree I haven't check." Lo and behold, that tree held the Boreal!

I got three lifers in The Owl Woods...the Long-eared, the Boreal and a Golden-Crowned Kinglet (which I had heard many times but never seen).

We added a Snowy Owl to the list and left the Island at 1 p.m. with six owl species under our belts. We set a challenge to try to see the other four owl species found in Eastern Ontario by the end of the day.

We headed home through Smiths Falls where a Great Grey had been seen and made an attempt for a Northern Hawk-owl. Neither was successful. It was time for a mad dash to Ottawa to find the Northern Hawk-owl that had been seen and reported regularly on Grandview Road. As always, he was sitting up in a tree at dusk. Another lifer for me. 7 down, three to go...

The Barred Owl along March Valley Road didn't want to cooperate, there were no Great Greys to be found and who knows where we might have seen an Eastern Screech Owl.

We ended the day with 7 owl species, which was amazing!! What a great day. Here are a few shots. For those of you who don't quite understand why I get up at 3:30 a.m. on a blustery day, I hope these help you get a little taste for what I'm after.

Northern Saw-whet Owl

Boreal Owl

Good birding and happy photo shoots!
F.