A Snowy Owl, a Rough-Legged Buzzard and American Crows

      We are experiencing the strangest of winters. As I glance outside to my backyard there is not a speck of snow - and this is January in Ontario. Precipitation comes in the form of rain, and fog and mist are our constant companions it seems.

     Miriam and I have been on our annual quest to find Snowy Owls (Bubo scandiacus), finally having success.

14 January, 2023

Wellington County, ON

     We made coffee, grabbed two delicious homemade chocolate chip/oatmeal cookies and headed out with visions of Snowy Owls dancing in our heads. This search has taken on the trappings of an annual rite of passage, and we look forward to reconnecting with these most magnificent of birds with an intensity reserved by others for such trival events as the Super Bowl or the Oscars. There is no doubt that there is some form of spiritual connection that exists between us and them.

     We have been patrolling all the reliable places where we have found this aristocrat of the north in years past, but have come up empty. 

     Finally - success!

     It was quite far off, in a field with barely a trace of snow (bad news for farmers) and sat quietly, resting and conserving its energy.

     Despite entreaties every year unscrupulous photographers will trespass on private property and disturb the owls in the eternal quest for the perfect shot, sacrificing the welfare of the bird to their own selfish ends.

     Our good friends, Victoria and Selwyn have never had the pleasure of an encounter with a Snowy Owl, but when we took them to see it the following day, it was nowhere to be found, having moved far away from over-zealous idiots I suspect.

Benjamin Road, Region of Waterloo, ON

     We were mere minutes from home when we noticed a raptor perched close to the road. A quick glance told us that it was not a Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis), our most likely Buteo, and we turned the car around to position ourselves to get a better look and take some pictures.

     It was a magnificent, dark morph Rough-legged Buzzard (Buteo lagopus). No sooner had we started to watch it, it dropped down and seemed to be mantling prey. If so, it consumed it on the ground, because when it flew off there was no evidence of a captured vole or other prey in its talons.

     It is a spectacular bird and we were delighted to have seen it.

American Crow (Corvus brachyrynchos) in our backyard

     American Crows, a member of the family Corvidae, are among the most intelligent and engaging of birds, and we have been doing our best to forge a relationship with them in our yard.

     We put out food for them every day, but they are naturally wary, and approach with caution. 

     They have every reason to mistrust humans who have persecuted them for centuries in every way possible. Slowly they are developing confidence in us, and when Miriam calls to them when she opens the window to toss out food, they appear almost instantly and perch in the trees in our yard and the neighbour's.

     We hope over time to have them trust us completely and engage with us daily. 

     What a rare privilege that will be.

A Shout-out for Linda Primmer, My Fairy Blogmother

     A couple of years ago I had Linda redesign my blog and I have been delighted with the results.

     Recently, I decided that it was time for a change of header, and went about doing it. Big mistake! I screwed it up royally!

     As I have several times since I first met Linda, I turned to her, and patiently and skillfully she set everything right and you can see the results above. She really is the epitome of professionalism and a joy to deal with. 

     It is ironic that I could explain the cell structure of a flower to you, converse on avian anatomy, fill you with wonder about bird migration, chat about a string quartet, but I am a total moron when it comes to a computer, and irrationally intimidated by it I might add.

     Linda has always come to my rescue, and I appreciate it immensely.

     Thank you, Linda.