From earlier information and discussion, we decided to drive three hours west to Gunnison in hopes of seeing the female Red-backed Buzzard from South America that had been present there. This was its third year in Gunnison and, in 1988, it had mated with a Swainson's Hawk. We arrived in the town around 10:00 AM and, after some aimless searching, went to the Forest Service office in town, which told us about an area that it frequented. We spent at least three hours looking for it, but to no avail. We did see at least four Swainson's, including one on a nest with young. We also saw Black-capped Chickadee, Western Bluebird, Sage Thrasher, Black-headed Grosbeak, Green-tailed Towhee, Lark and Brewer's Sparrow, American Goldfinch, and Red-winged and Yellow-headed Blackbird. As luck would have it, we would later learn that the bird was seen in the same area we were looking for it about an hour before we got there. Highway birding between Pueblo and Gunnison yielded Common Snipe, Lewis's Woodpecker, Hermit Thrush, and Pine Grosbeak.
Since our only chance at Flammulated Owl seemed to be at night, we though we'd give Rye Mountain Park a try. We got to the park about a half-hour before dark. As darkness prevailed, we tried the tape in a few areas. We were about to give up when a single 'hoot' broke the silence. We got excited and intently listened to try and get a fix on the call. Unfortunately, we never heard another 'hoot' out of it. We returned to our Pueblo motel having heard a "Flam" in both Arizona and Colorado but still never lucky enough to see one.
Saturday, July 8, 1989
Colorado Trip ~ June 30, 1989
Our goal, today, was to drive to the Commanche National Grasslands of extreme southeastern Colorado, hitting some birding spots along the way. Soon after leaving Pueblo, we saw more Lewis's Woodpeckers and Loggerhead Shrikes. Western Kingbirds and Meadowlarks seemed to be on every other telephone pole. At Lake Cheraw, north of LaJunta, we scoped Western and Clark's Grebe, White-faced Ibis, Blue-winged Teal, Lesser Scaup, American Coot, Black-necked Stilt, American Avocet, Wilson's Phalarope, Black Tern, and my first Snowy Plovers. Behind the McDonald's in Lamar, we spotted three adult Mississippi Kites. At Springfield, we checked into the Starlite Motel where the hospitality was exceptional. It had a map to the Lesser Prairie-Chicken viewing areas sitting out on the check-in desk. After getting some information from her about the chickens, we set out for the grasslands.
After reaching the town of Campo, we turned east and followed the directions to the viewing area. We knew we wouldn't see the chickens there in the afternoon, but we wanted to give the route a 'practice run' since we would be doing it in the dark the next morning. The tricky part was finding the gate and following the "road", which was two tire tracks meandering through the grass. Over a mile from the dirt road was a tiny sign that read, "L.P.C. Viewing".
The sign for the Lesser Prairie-Chicken viewing area east of Campo, Colorado.
The Lesser Prairie-Chicken lek east of Campo, Colorado.
Almost immediately, we heard numerous Cassin's Sparrows, which eventually allowed some good looks.
We still had some daylight left, so we agreed on traveling into Kansas and Oklahoma, new states for all of us. Along the way, we saw our only pair of Scissor-tailed Flycatchers.
A Scissor-tailed Flycatcher on a wire north of Elkhart, Kansas.
Returning through the grasslands, we saw Scaled Quail, Ring-necked Pheasant, Long-billed Curlew, Burrowing Owl, Loggerhead Shrike, Horned Lark, Lark Sparrow, and Lark Bunting.
A Long-billed Curlew in the Commanche National Grasslands east of Campo, Colorado.
Back at our Springfield motel, we set our alarms for 'early'.
After reaching the town of Campo, we turned east and followed the directions to the viewing area. We knew we wouldn't see the chickens there in the afternoon, but we wanted to give the route a 'practice run' since we would be doing it in the dark the next morning. The tricky part was finding the gate and following the "road", which was two tire tracks meandering through the grass. Over a mile from the dirt road was a tiny sign that read, "L.P.C. Viewing".
Almost immediately, we heard numerous Cassin's Sparrows, which eventually allowed some good looks.
We still had some daylight left, so we agreed on traveling into Kansas and Oklahoma, new states for all of us. Along the way, we saw our only pair of Scissor-tailed Flycatchers.
Returning through the grasslands, we saw Scaled Quail, Ring-necked Pheasant, Long-billed Curlew, Burrowing Owl, Loggerhead Shrike, Horned Lark, Lark Sparrow, and Lark Bunting.
Back at our Springfield motel, we set our alarms for 'early'.
Colorado Trip ~ July 1, 1989
After prying my eyes open, we headed back out to the lek. Since it was July, our only chance of seeing a chicken was to be there at dawn and hope that a late straggler was there strutting, which was unexpected. As it became light enough to see, we found the lek was empty. We were, however, treated to a chorus of Cassin's Sparrows during sunrise.
Sunrise at the Lesser Prairie-Chicken lek in the Commanche National Grasslands, Colorado.
Our visit also included a minor incident. I had set up my scope at the back of the Bronco in order to study a hawk sitting on a distant fencepost. We later walked out through the grass and when I turned around, I couldn't believe what I saw. There, at the back of the Bronco, stood three of the free-roaming cattle (a mom with two young). Mom was nestled right up against the tripod legs holding my scope. Unsure of what to do, I slowly walked towards her, although I had visions of running for my life through the lek with a protective mom hot on my heels. Finally, she retreated, but she still managed to swing around and knock over my scope. Luckily, it fell into the sandy soil of the grasslands.
We left the grasslands and picked up George back at the motel. He was the only smart one in the bunch, sleeping in while we hoped for the next-to-impossible. We marched on towards Denver. At the town of Lamar, we saw a few more Mississippi Kites. After stopping, I noticed more and more kites lifting off, so I drove over in that direction. I conservatively estimated that there were about 50 Mississippi Kites circling over the town.
Farther north on Route 287, we passed through the towns of Kit Carson and Wild Horse. These "towns" must have been put on the map in order to fill in the empty spaces between 80 miles of nothing. We weaved through Denver and stopped at the town of Idledale. Mark found two very accommodating American Dippers along the streambank.
American Dipper near Idledale, Colorado.
Above Idledale, we visited a very busy O'Fallon Park where we finally found a pair of Townsend's Solitaires for Babe.
Townsend's Solitaire at O'Fallon Park near Idledale, Colorado.
Our next stop was at Red Rocks Park. The rock forms are really interesting.
Red Rocks Park near Morrison, Colorado.
Birds at Red Rocks included White-throated Swift, Say's Phoebe, Scrub Jay, Canyon Wren, Black-headed Grosbeak, and our only "trip" Gray Catbird.
We stayed at the Motel 6 in Denver. Since I needed Poorwill, I drove back to Red Rocks Park to try for it at dusk. I didn't hear any of them, but I did hear and see two young Great Horned Owls.
Our visit also included a minor incident. I had set up my scope at the back of the Bronco in order to study a hawk sitting on a distant fencepost. We later walked out through the grass and when I turned around, I couldn't believe what I saw. There, at the back of the Bronco, stood three of the free-roaming cattle (a mom with two young). Mom was nestled right up against the tripod legs holding my scope. Unsure of what to do, I slowly walked towards her, although I had visions of running for my life through the lek with a protective mom hot on my heels. Finally, she retreated, but she still managed to swing around and knock over my scope. Luckily, it fell into the sandy soil of the grasslands.
We left the grasslands and picked up George back at the motel. He was the only smart one in the bunch, sleeping in while we hoped for the next-to-impossible. We marched on towards Denver. At the town of Lamar, we saw a few more Mississippi Kites. After stopping, I noticed more and more kites lifting off, so I drove over in that direction. I conservatively estimated that there were about 50 Mississippi Kites circling over the town.
Farther north on Route 287, we passed through the towns of Kit Carson and Wild Horse. These "towns" must have been put on the map in order to fill in the empty spaces between 80 miles of nothing. We weaved through Denver and stopped at the town of Idledale. Mark found two very accommodating American Dippers along the streambank.
Above Idledale, we visited a very busy O'Fallon Park where we finally found a pair of Townsend's Solitaires for Babe.
Our next stop was at Red Rocks Park. The rock forms are really interesting.
Birds at Red Rocks included White-throated Swift, Say's Phoebe, Scrub Jay, Canyon Wren, Black-headed Grosbeak, and our only "trip" Gray Catbird.
We stayed at the Motel 6 in Denver. Since I needed Poorwill, I drove back to Red Rocks Park to try for it at dusk. I didn't hear any of them, but I did hear and see two young Great Horned Owls.
Colorado Trip ~ July 2, 1989
We had done so well at finding most of the "target birds" that we decided to try for some birds that time had not allowed for previously. Mark had already seen Three-toed Woodpecker but hadn't seen Black Swift. Babe and I had done just the opposite. So, we returned to Rocky Mountain National Park to drop off Mark at Bear Lake where he hiked to Loch Vale searching for the swifts. Babe and I went to Moraine Park where we hiked to Fern Falls looking for Three-toed. After hiking many miles, Mark realized that the swifts weren't there. Meanwhile, Babe and I were much more fortunate. Just above Fern Falls, I heard some erratic pecking. I called Babe up to where I was and she discovered the male Three-toed Woodpecker chiseling at the base of a dead pine. We got within 15 feet, close enough to easily count the three toes on each foot!
Back in Denver, we drove around the Rocky Mountain Arsenal where we saw Northern Bobwhite, California Gull, Burrowing Owl, and more Black-billed Magpies. We checked out the sunset over the Rockies before spending our last night in Colorado at the Motel 6 in Denver.
Sunset over the Rocky Mountains.
Back in Denver, we drove around the Rocky Mountain Arsenal where we saw Northern Bobwhite, California Gull, Burrowing Owl, and more Black-billed Magpies. We checked out the sunset over the Rockies before spending our last night in Colorado at the Motel 6 in Denver.
Colorado Trip ~ July 3, 1989
I called Bill Brockner the night before for a lead on a Blue Grouse spot. He volunteered to take us to his favorite spot. We met him in the town of Evergreen and followed him to Mount Falcon County Park. We had hiked around in their favored habitat for at least an hour when we decided to head back towards the parking lot. On the way out, I happened to look uphill and see a head and neck stretched out from behind a tree. I quickly called everyone over. It then flew about 15-20 feet up into the tree above us. As we studied it at leisure, the gray terminal band revealed it be one of the "Southern Rockies" form of Blue Grouse. It was a 'lifer' for Mark and Babe.
A Blue Grouse at Mount Falcon County Park near Morrison, Colorado.
Other birds found in the park included Red-breasted and White-breasted Nuthatch, Dusky Flycatcher, Steller's Jay, Mountain Chickadee, Western and Mountain Bluebird, Townsend's Solitaire, Hermit Thrush, Virginia's Warbler, Western Tanager, Green-tailed and Rufous-sided Towhee, Vesper Sparrow, and the "Black-backed" form of Lesser Goldfinch. As it turned out, Bill used to live in Buffalo and visit Hawk Mountain where knew Rosalie Edge, the Brouns, and Joe Taylor personally. We thanked him for his help and headed for the airport.
During the last three days of our stay, temperatures in the Denver area were around 100 degrees but were accompanied by only 10 to 20 percent humidity. Wildfires were becoming an increasing problem. Everything considered, we had a very successful trip. We turned in the rental car with 2477 extra miles on it and flew back to Allentown by way of Pittsburgh.
I ended the trip with 19 life birds out of the 154 species. Mammals seen included Coyote, Yellow-bellied Marmot, Prairie Dog, Ground Squirrel, Chipmunk, Jackrabbit, Snowshoe Hare, Cottontail, American Elk, Mule Deer, and Pronghorn. A few Texas Horned Toad Lizards were also seen.
Colorado Trip List
1) Western Grebe
2) Clark's Grebe
3) Eared Grebe
4) Pied-billed Grebe
5) American White Pelican
6) Double-crested Cormorant
7) Black-crowned Night-Heron
8) Great Blue Heron
9) White-faced Ibis
10) Trumpeter Swan*
11) Canada Goose
12) Mallard
13) Gadwall
14) Green-winged Teal
15) American Wigeon
16) Northern Shoveler
17) Blue-winged Teal
18) Cinnamon Teal
19) Ruddy Duck
20) Redhead
21) Lesser Scaup
22) Common Merganser
23) American Coot
24) American Avocet
25) Black-necked Stilt
26) Snowy Plover*
27) Killdeer
28) Mountain Plover*
29) Long-billed Curlew
30) Willet
31) Lesser Yellowlegs
32) Spotted Sandpiper
33) Wilson's Phalarope
34) Common Snipe
35) Franklin's Gull*
36) Ring-billed Gull
37) California Gull
38) Forster's Tern
39) Black Tern
40) Turkey Vulture
41) Golden Eagle
42) Mississippi Kite
43) Northern Harrier
44) Cooper's Hawk
45) Red-tailed Hawk
46) Swainson's Hawk
47) Ferruginous Hawk*
48) American Kestrel
49) Prairie Falcon
50) Blue Grouse ("Southern Rockies" form)
51) White-tailed Ptarmigan
52) Sage Grouse*
53) Northern Bobwhite
54) Scaled Quail
55) Ring-necked Pheasant
56) Rock Dove
57) Mourning Dove
58) Great Horned Owl
59) Flammulated Owl (heard only)
60) Burrowing Owl
61) Common Nighthawk
62) Chimney Swift
63) White-throated Swift
64) Broad-tailed Hummingbird
65) Belted Kingfisher
66) Northern "Red-shafted" Flicker
67) Lewis's Woodpecker
68) Williamson's Sapsucker
69) Red-naped Sapsucker*
70) Hairy Woodpecker
71) Three-toed Woodpecker*
72) Eastern Kingbird
73) Western Kingbird
74) Scissor-tailed Flycatcher
75) Western Wood-Pewee
76) Say's Phoebe
77) Gray Flycatcher*
78) Dusky Flycatcher*
79) Hammond's Flycatcher*
80) Cordilleran (Western) Flycatcher*
81) Horned Lark
82) Tree Swallow
83) Violet-green Swallow
84) Cliff Swallow
85) Barn Swallow
86) Scrub Jay
87) Steller's Jay
88) Gray Jay
89) Clark's Nutcracker
90) Black-billed Magpie
91) American Crow
92) Common Raven
93) Plain Titmouse
94) Black-capped Chickadee
95) Mountain Chickadee
96) White-breasted Nuthatch
97) Red-breasted Nuthatch
98) Pygmy Nuthatch
99) House Wren
100) Canyon Wren
101) Ruby-crowned Kinglet
102) Western Bluebird
103) Mountain Bluebird
104) Townsend's Solitaire
105) Hermit Thrush
106) American Robin
107) Loggerhead Shrike
108) Gray Catbird
109) Northern Mockingbird
110) Sage Thrasher*
111) Brown Thrasher
112) American (Water) Pipit
113) American Dipper
114) European Starling
115) Solitary Vireo
116) Warbling Vireo
117) Virginia's Warbler
118) Yellow-rumped "Audubon's" Warbler
119) Yellow Warbler
120) MacGillivray's Warbler
121) Black-headed Grosbeak
122) Indigo Bunting
123) Lazuli Bunting*
124) Green-tailed Towhee
125) Rufous-sided Towhee
126) Vesper Sparrow
127) Savannah Sparrow
128) Song Sparrow
129) Lark Sparrow
130) Cassin's Sparrow*
131) Chipping Sparrow
132) Brewer's Sparrow
133) Dark-eyed "Gray-headed" Junco
134) White-crowned Sparrow
135) Lincoln's Sparrow
136) Chestnut-collared Longspur*
137) McCown's Longspur*
138) Lark Bunting*
139) Western Meadowlark
140) Yellow-headed Blackbird
141) Red-winged Blackbird
142) Brewer's Blackbird
143) Brown-headed Cowbird
144) Common Grackle
145) Northern "Bullock's" Oriole
146) Western Tanager
147) House Sparrow
148) Pine Siskin
149) American Goldfinch
150) Lesser "Black-backed" Goldfinch
151) Pine Grosbeak
152) "Brown-capped" Rosy-Finch
153) Cassin's Finch*
154) House Finch
Other birds found in the park included Red-breasted and White-breasted Nuthatch, Dusky Flycatcher, Steller's Jay, Mountain Chickadee, Western and Mountain Bluebird, Townsend's Solitaire, Hermit Thrush, Virginia's Warbler, Western Tanager, Green-tailed and Rufous-sided Towhee, Vesper Sparrow, and the "Black-backed" form of Lesser Goldfinch. As it turned out, Bill used to live in Buffalo and visit Hawk Mountain where knew Rosalie Edge, the Brouns, and Joe Taylor personally. We thanked him for his help and headed for the airport.
During the last three days of our stay, temperatures in the Denver area were around 100 degrees but were accompanied by only 10 to 20 percent humidity. Wildfires were becoming an increasing problem. Everything considered, we had a very successful trip. We turned in the rental car with 2477 extra miles on it and flew back to Allentown by way of Pittsburgh.
I ended the trip with 19 life birds out of the 154 species. Mammals seen included Coyote, Yellow-bellied Marmot, Prairie Dog, Ground Squirrel, Chipmunk, Jackrabbit, Snowshoe Hare, Cottontail, American Elk, Mule Deer, and Pronghorn. A few Texas Horned Toad Lizards were also seen.
Colorado Trip List
1) Western Grebe
2) Clark's Grebe
3) Eared Grebe
4) Pied-billed Grebe
5) American White Pelican
6) Double-crested Cormorant
7) Black-crowned Night-Heron
8) Great Blue Heron
9) White-faced Ibis
10) Trumpeter Swan*
11) Canada Goose
12) Mallard
13) Gadwall
14) Green-winged Teal
15) American Wigeon
16) Northern Shoveler
17) Blue-winged Teal
18) Cinnamon Teal
19) Ruddy Duck
20) Redhead
21) Lesser Scaup
22) Common Merganser
23) American Coot
24) American Avocet
25) Black-necked Stilt
26) Snowy Plover*
27) Killdeer
28) Mountain Plover*
29) Long-billed Curlew
30) Willet
31) Lesser Yellowlegs
32) Spotted Sandpiper
33) Wilson's Phalarope
34) Common Snipe
35) Franklin's Gull*
36) Ring-billed Gull
37) California Gull
38) Forster's Tern
39) Black Tern
40) Turkey Vulture
41) Golden Eagle
42) Mississippi Kite
43) Northern Harrier
44) Cooper's Hawk
45) Red-tailed Hawk
46) Swainson's Hawk
47) Ferruginous Hawk*
48) American Kestrel
49) Prairie Falcon
50) Blue Grouse ("Southern Rockies" form)
51) White-tailed Ptarmigan
52) Sage Grouse*
53) Northern Bobwhite
54) Scaled Quail
55) Ring-necked Pheasant
56) Rock Dove
57) Mourning Dove
58) Great Horned Owl
59) Flammulated Owl (heard only)
60) Burrowing Owl
61) Common Nighthawk
62) Chimney Swift
63) White-throated Swift
64) Broad-tailed Hummingbird
65) Belted Kingfisher
66) Northern "Red-shafted" Flicker
67) Lewis's Woodpecker
68) Williamson's Sapsucker
69) Red-naped Sapsucker*
70) Hairy Woodpecker
71) Three-toed Woodpecker*
72) Eastern Kingbird
73) Western Kingbird
74) Scissor-tailed Flycatcher
75) Western Wood-Pewee
76) Say's Phoebe
77) Gray Flycatcher*
78) Dusky Flycatcher*
79) Hammond's Flycatcher*
80) Cordilleran (Western) Flycatcher*
81) Horned Lark
82) Tree Swallow
83) Violet-green Swallow
84) Cliff Swallow
85) Barn Swallow
86) Scrub Jay
87) Steller's Jay
88) Gray Jay
89) Clark's Nutcracker
90) Black-billed Magpie
91) American Crow
92) Common Raven
93) Plain Titmouse
94) Black-capped Chickadee
95) Mountain Chickadee
96) White-breasted Nuthatch
97) Red-breasted Nuthatch
98) Pygmy Nuthatch
99) House Wren
100) Canyon Wren
101) Ruby-crowned Kinglet
102) Western Bluebird
103) Mountain Bluebird
104) Townsend's Solitaire
105) Hermit Thrush
106) American Robin
107) Loggerhead Shrike
108) Gray Catbird
109) Northern Mockingbird
110) Sage Thrasher*
111) Brown Thrasher
112) American (Water) Pipit
113) American Dipper
114) European Starling
115) Solitary Vireo
116) Warbling Vireo
117) Virginia's Warbler
118) Yellow-rumped "Audubon's" Warbler
119) Yellow Warbler
120) MacGillivray's Warbler
121) Black-headed Grosbeak
122) Indigo Bunting
123) Lazuli Bunting*
124) Green-tailed Towhee
125) Rufous-sided Towhee
126) Vesper Sparrow
127) Savannah Sparrow
128) Song Sparrow
129) Lark Sparrow
130) Cassin's Sparrow*
131) Chipping Sparrow
132) Brewer's Sparrow
133) Dark-eyed "Gray-headed" Junco
134) White-crowned Sparrow
135) Lincoln's Sparrow
136) Chestnut-collared Longspur*
137) McCown's Longspur*
138) Lark Bunting*
139) Western Meadowlark
140) Yellow-headed Blackbird
141) Red-winged Blackbird
142) Brewer's Blackbird
143) Brown-headed Cowbird
144) Common Grackle
145) Northern "Bullock's" Oriole
146) Western Tanager
147) House Sparrow
148) Pine Siskin
149) American Goldfinch
150) Lesser "Black-backed" Goldfinch
151) Pine Grosbeak
152) "Brown-capped" Rosy-Finch
153) Cassin's Finch*
154) House Finch
Tuesday, March 1, 1988
Ontario Trip for Eurasian Siskin! ~ February 29, 1988
I got a call from Harold Morrin, who asked me if I'd be interested in going with him to Toronto, Ontario to see a Eurasian Siskin. Harold is a great birder from Lancaster County whom I'd met and spent days with atop Hawk Mountain's North Lookout. He has co-written a book called "A Guide to the Birds of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania" and has mentored Ted Parker III, a fantastic young birder who has been conducting invaluable research in South America. I had been increasingly venturing outside Pennsylvania to see 'life birds', so I jumped at the chance when he asked.
The bird was coming to the feeder of Toronto birder Ron Scovell. The 430-mile drive to there was about seven hours, so we left around midnight. The weather did not cooperate as we ran into periods of sleet and snow, making the roads pretty slippery in spots, but we eventually got to the house located in the Rexdale suburb of Toronto. Ron, the homeowner, welcomed us into his house and we set up at one of his living room windows where the feeders were located. It wasn't that long after when the Eurasian Siskin showed up at a thistle feeder, allowing us great looks. While there, a Hoary Redpoll, a frosty-looking bird with a stubby bill and no markings on the undertail coverts, came in to feed among several Common Redpolls. It was another bonus 'lifer' for me! After an hour or so, we thanked Ron for opening his house up to us and started the long drive back home.
The bird was coming to the feeder of Toronto birder Ron Scovell. The 430-mile drive to there was about seven hours, so we left around midnight. The weather did not cooperate as we ran into periods of sleet and snow, making the roads pretty slippery in spots, but we eventually got to the house located in the Rexdale suburb of Toronto. Ron, the homeowner, welcomed us into his house and we set up at one of his living room windows where the feeders were located. It wasn't that long after when the Eurasian Siskin showed up at a thistle feeder, allowing us great looks. While there, a Hoary Redpoll, a frosty-looking bird with a stubby bill and no markings on the undertail coverts, came in to feed among several Common Redpolls. It was another bonus 'lifer' for me! After an hour or so, we thanked Ron for opening his house up to us and started the long drive back home.
Sunday, January 3, 1988
Ontario Trip for Northern Hawk-Owl ~ January 1-2, 1988
January 1, 1988
I had heard about a Northern Hawk-Owl that had been staying in an area near Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, and thought it would be a great way to start off the New Year. I drove up into Canada and got there in the afternoon of January 1st. The bird was being seen along Cedarview Road, west of Nepean, which is a suburb of Ottawa. It took a lot of searching until I finally found the bird late in the day in a woodlot along the edge of Cedarview Road, south of Base Line Road. It was a cloudy day and I didn't get any chances for a good photo, so I got a motel in Ottawa and planned to return the next day.
January 2, 1988
I went back to the area and, soon after, found the bird in the same general area. This time, the bird was very cooperative for photos.
Northern Hawk-Owl near Nepean, a suburb of Ottawa, in Ontario, Canada.
I decided to spend the rest of the day checking some parks in Ottawa for Bohemian Waxwing, but I only managed to find some Evening Grosbeaks.
Evening Grosbeak in a park in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
I drove across the river into Hull, Quebec. It was weird, because all of a sudden, all the signs were in French. I took a little drive along the river and then returned into Ontario. The long drive back home didn't seem so far after finding the owl.
I had heard about a Northern Hawk-Owl that had been staying in an area near Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, and thought it would be a great way to start off the New Year. I drove up into Canada and got there in the afternoon of January 1st. The bird was being seen along Cedarview Road, west of Nepean, which is a suburb of Ottawa. It took a lot of searching until I finally found the bird late in the day in a woodlot along the edge of Cedarview Road, south of Base Line Road. It was a cloudy day and I didn't get any chances for a good photo, so I got a motel in Ottawa and planned to return the next day.
January 2, 1988
I went back to the area and, soon after, found the bird in the same general area. This time, the bird was very cooperative for photos.
I decided to spend the rest of the day checking some parks in Ottawa for Bohemian Waxwing, but I only managed to find some Evening Grosbeaks.
I drove across the river into Hull, Quebec. It was weird, because all of a sudden, all the signs were in French. I took a little drive along the river and then returned into Ontario. The long drive back home didn't seem so far after finding the owl.
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