The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

Spirits were high as the North Leeds Birdwatchers set off on their weekly field trip. New fallen snow sparkled in the February sunlight, the temperature was cool, but there was no wind â€" a perfect day for winter birding. Our leader for the day was Bill Cutfield and we planned to meet him on the way to our destination, the Ivy Lea Bridge. Bill had made a virtual promise that we would find Bald Eagles and Wild Turkeys in the bridge area. We took our time as we moved south, but found few birds before we reached the meeting point. Because we were late, Bill asked us what we had been doing. "Birding", we replied. To our chagrin, we had only a few birds to report, whereas Bill, while waiting for us, already had a list as long as your arm. Because we needed two cars, Annette ess joined Bill in his jeep and we continued on our way, spotting Roughâ€"legged Hawks and American Kestrels as we moved along. We crossed the Ivy Lea Bridge and parked, then we backtracked on foot to the 'eagle place'. there were ducks â€" close to 500 Common Mergansers and nearly 300 Common 18 NORTH LEEDS LANTERN IflARCH 1991 beautiful glistened on the pines and all was the sound of birds. There were at least 15 woodpeckers, l Red-breasted and 15 Whiteâ€"breasted Nuthatches. Chickadees were numerous and many were whistling their captivating spring song. A gorgeous, healthy looking Red Fox darted across the road in front of us, and a mystery bird was seen that never was identified. After all this, Bill offered us a coffee and restroom stop â€" a suggestion that was well received. These rest periods are always more welcome in winter. Later, satified and happy, we started off following our leader. We four couldn't seem to get organized â€" one mislaying gloves, another binoculars and I kept misplacing my notebook and pencil. We giggled about our ineptness, and the words doddering dodos came to mind. At one stop however, we were pleased to find 6 Roughlegged Hawks in a single field. We were sure that Bill and Annette had missed some of them. When we made our grand announcement, we discovered they had seen 7!! As we followed, Moreen Ready, who is noted for her sharp eyes, saw a different looking hawk on the ground. We stopped. Bill continued on. It took us some time to identify the bird as it was hunched over, eating something and was difficult to see clearly. It was a Northern Harrier. At again, fearless .Lau_Lca spot. Snow stately around us nature would provide them with one unique sighting a sighting that would make Bill sorry he had lost us. For a while it looked as though we were out of luck. Then, "Stop the Carl". There, in a tree near the road sat lO Shortâ€"eared Owls â€" a marvelous sight! And even as we counted them we sighted more flying over the field ahead. By the time wc had finished counting, we had tallied 18 of these interesting diurnal owls, and had marvelled at their beautiful buoyant flight. Our reward for the day - we were elated! From then on there was no stopping us. We found a Northern Shrike, 2 Ruffed Grouse, 20 Snow buntings and 20 Horned Larks, those tinkling harbingers of spring. All these were new species for the list. Now to find Bill! Somehow in all of this, Annette was not being blamed, after all, she was not driving! Eventually, Bill was sighted coming in the opposite direction (having returned Annette to her car at our original meeting place) and we flagged him down. With straight faces, we demanded to know why he had not waited for us - and listened to his somewhat bristly explanation. Then he said that he and Annette had found a Northern Geshawk. We almost ignored this excellent find in our eagerness to gloat. Then we told him about our 6 new species, purposely saving our best Woodpecker and a group of Gray Partridge which we had missed! Our original list for the day was 26 species. Add to that Bill's Pileated Woodpecker and Gray Partridge, not forgetting the Ulcerated Turkey, one Blameless Bird and 4 Doddering Dodos, you'll have to agree that the sum total represented a fun-filled birding day. Sharpâ€"shinned Hawks have been making their presence known at feeders. They have appeared in the yards of Moreen Ready, John Goodman and Ken Kentziger. Tim Hendrick saw a 'sharpie' kill and pluck an American Tree Sparrow, and a bridge club, meeting in Pat McManus' home, witnessed the demise of a downy woodpecker in a like fashion. Winona Barker has 'had Mourning doves, a pair of Northern Cardinals and a Pine Siskin at her feeder. She also saw a Barred Owl near her home. She hooted, and the owl replied! Another Barred Owl was -seen by Bill Cutfield. It was sitting on a hydro line near Lyndhurst. Pauline Hockey had, among other species, numerous House Finches and American Goldfinches at her feeder. The 'best' bird at mine is a Redtbreasted Nuthatch that comes regularly to feed on the hanging fat. Don Warren told of seeing 4 Bald Eagles on the ice a little earlier in the season. Eagles seem to have been prevalent in this area this winter. You perhaps will have GOldeneYe _ bUt no eagles' laSt we had something for the last. "And": noticed the rowin number Never mind, Bill knew that the Other party had we Chorused' "18 Short_ of hawks at :he rdidsides places nearby where eagles missed! eared Owls!" The Redâ€"tailed HaWks seeA and Wild Turkeys roosted. However, as we hurried incredulous look on bill's to be numerous and He even knew Where the to catCh up, we came to face threw “5 into fits certainl Roughâ€"legged turkeys fed! To make four corners. which way of laughter __ our revenge Hawks nge been present the Story Short, the eagle had Bill taken? The was Complete! 3111' Who in reater numbers than rOOSt was a 'bUSt" and lead car is SUpposed to is a great Sport: aptly lastg ear Winona. Barker as for the Wild Turkeys wait in such situations. described himself as has ieen' this s ecies ‘ theY jUSt weren't there- We decided to go straight "ulcerated". e l l herp h m Speaking 0f turkeys: We ahead. We were dead wrong! There is a postscript E gu ar y _near 0 e were beginning to giVe We never did find the to this story. At the Bor;::EtFlme' d thi Bill a good natured razzing lead party. However, end of the day my phone R:d_ in Zme You £T:3kbird5 ’ suggeSting that there we were seeing many Redâ€" rang_ It was Bill to and wo;£:r harbing:;s 0: might be one turkey present tailed and Roughâ€"legged inquire as to why we hadn't spring should have arrived. â€" the one that brought Hawks, and it was a b . 00mpleted °ur 11.5t' . He please call 359â€"5178 with us there- eaUtlEUl day‘ The four had followed our directions . ht. d t.l I must say in Bill's dodos decided that, having to the owly plaCe, and Your Slgh lngs an un l defence, that it was a been left behind, surel - neXt mon Y be51des the owls he GOOD BIRDING! discovered a Pileated 0 Free inspection” and estimate by certified mechanics (‘ for mosr car modeisl WAYN E'S SERVICE CENTRE - RO.Box113 . Elgin, Ontario KOG 1E0 359-5959 24 HOURS TOWING - A nuropno - - MUFFLERS BRAKES SHOCKS 0 Top quality replacement pars Resoecteo national brands Abex OWagner OGaonei OVerdIC o Autopro National Guarantee Honored by Over 350 Autooro dealers ccasrzo coasr ARMOR ALL CAR PRODUCTS 0 Mufflers 0 brake linings O shock absorbers Guaranteed for as long as you own your car a..~ FISHING TACKILE