- Mar 29 9:09 pm
#87636
March 27_2018 lol Judy, and the joke is on me too. I headed up to Rithet's Bog to see if there were any Snipe, took a short-cut through the woods to Lochside Trail/ Blenkinsop Rd to check out this sign (which I'm sure is for the Barn Owl) and ended up walking 3 miles off course arriving at Mt Doug Park! No worries, lots to see there too. Saw 2 nesting Ravens chase a Barred Owl away from their territory.
March 28 Wed-did an Owl tour with a friend. Started at the new Mary Lake Nature Sanctuary, 1772 Millstream Rd. It has $5 guided tours the 2nd Sunday of every month to aid its fund raising ($2.4 million dollars) and won't be open to the General Public until it reaches the goal. Looks about half way there on the chart out front. They are building trails and bridges at present. A member told me every kind of Owl is in this pristine wilderness area, so it's something to look forward to. We did hear a Robin chirping an Owl alarm past the gate but weren't able to see past the No Trespassing sign to find out what it was.
Off to another area where Western Screech nested last year. Once again, heard a Robin chirping an Owl alarm but we weren't able to plow through the underbrush to see what was there. Going to have to do a night trip.
Out to Dominion Brook Park on East Saanich Rd, where it's common knowledge the Horned Owls nested 2 years in a row in the Wicker Basket tied up to the douglas fir when their nest collapsed with owlets in it. the owlets were plunked back in the basket 2 yrs ago, Mom fed them and all was well and she used it last year again with success. Right now, there is a Tent City with homeless there claiming their rights. a local tells me the GHOW have moved one subdivision west (more douglas fir) where life is a little quieter but do come back to hunt the area at night.
March 29-checked the Barred in BHPk_SEW. still not in the nest tree but hooting to one another in close proximity. nice to see families out on Spring Break enjoying the Park with their children, Colorado & Vancouver today. They were thrilled to see the Owls and Anna's hummingbirds feeding their newly hatched chicks.