sightings for Tuesday January 12th

Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue, Morgan Arboretum
On my lunch time walk this afternoon I was able to watch a Bald Eagle (Pygargue à tête blanche) soaring over blossom corner for several minutes. He/she didn't seem to be intent on landing any time soon, but what a spectacular bird to add to this year's bird list - Christopher Cloutier

Today, Mabel and I saw 3 Snowy owls (Harfang des neiges) west of St. Clet. All were immatures. The first was on the south side of Chemin Ste. Julie perched on the top of the largest tree available (probably the same bird that Peter and Anne saw a couple of days ago). The other two were close (from 50 to 150m) to the sharp right right hand bend (i.e. turning west) on 4e Rang just south of the junction of Chemin Ste. Marie and Bertrand. There is a small barn at the bend where you can park off the road. Most of the time the two birds sat on the ground amid corn stubble but they frequently interacted, almost locking talons at times. Although each was looking and listening actively for voles, they were also obviously keeping a beady eye on each other, because whenever one headed off after a vole the other took off too, challenging for the prize. We have seen hawks do this often but rarely Snowy Owls. We watched them for well over an hour.

There must be a good number of voles there because both birds were very active and appeared well nourished. Let's hope they make it through the winter and return safely to the Arctic. At the same location there was a group of about 15 Snow Buntings (bruant des neiges) and 5 Lapland Longspurs (Bruant lapon) flying around and landing on the road, giving us great looks at them (between passing cars, of course). We tried for other owls in the woods further west but without success. - B. Barnhurst

Varennes, chemin de Picardie: Snowy owl (Harfang des neiges) - André Provost