With very little snow & mild temperatures so far this winter Beaverhill is offering some great winter birdding for raptors. On Jan.28, Del Huget located several Snowy Owls & 6 Shot-eared Owls hunting the former lakebed. Curtis & Michelle Manley visited the Francis Point area along the south shore, just east of Tofield, on Jan.30. Highlights were 4 Snowy Owls & between 14-20 Rogh-legged Hawks. Individual Rough-legged Hawks occasionally winter this far north but never in the numbers being reported this winter. Linda Jarmolicz & myself made a brief visit to Misty Ridge on Feb. 01 to resupply suet feeders at the ski hill. Upon leaving we were treated to a flypast of a pair of adult Bald Eagles. Although they are often back at the nearby nest on the Athabasca R. by late Feb., these birds have obviously been overwintering in the region. In early Jan. I observed an imm. Bald Eagle flying s.e near the Goodridge L. turnoff Sec.661 & Rge.Rd 21. Again this is an ovewintering bird rather than early migrant. Later in the day we observed a Hawk Owl sitting on power pole at the junction of Sec. 801 & 663. Finished the day with sighting of a Merlin, observed from inside the Westlock Hospital !
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