First Algonquin Run for the Year, via the Kawarthas, of course

A quick overnight run to Algonquin this week made for some interesting sightings along the way, starting with this glorious female Snowy Owl on her usual perch with commanding views of the Kawarthas:

Do they or don't they have ear tufts? 

The second edition of The Sibley Guide to Birds mentions the "small head and no "ear" tufts" of the Snowy Owl, but indeed they do have them, they're just not always visible. 

This beauty's ear tufts were ridiculously apparent, for an even better view, please double-click on the photo:

I recalled reading about this subject on Jean Iron's website, and with her permission (many thanks, Jean!) I'm including the link to her website, and then Ron Pittaway's imbedded article here: 

http://www.jeaniron.ca/2015/snowy.htm

(and who knew the Great Horned Owl is the Snowy Owl's closest living relative??!!)

Off she goes, giving great views of a web of sharp talons:

The sunlight reflecting off a distant Northern Shrike caught my attention outside of Bobcaygeon. This is considered to be a rare sighting this winter:

Algonquin never disappoints, even if wasn't especially "birdy" during my first visit there for the year. Thankfully three of my target species were seen, beginning with a pair of Boreal Chickadees:

Several Black-capped Chickadees outnumbered the Boreal Chickadee pair, but even in poor lighting the dull brown cap and brown flanks of the Boreal Chickadees easily differentiated them.  

The Boreal Chickadees were mostly silent, except when I briefly recognized their wheezy calls from high up in some evergreens while searching (in vain) for a Spruce Grouse (one would have sufficed, please, just one, grrrr) .  

A paltry pair of Common Redpolls came into the feeders at the Visitor Centre:

A pair of Gray Jays greeted me at the parking lot at the Spruce Bog Boardwalk:

  

Wintry views from the bridge overlooking Smoke Creek was chillingly beautiful, thanks to swirling snow in the distance: 

My consolation prize for the lack of birds revealed itself to me when odd noises were heard from high up in a tree: 

An American Marten, also known as Pine Marten!

This inquisitive darling seemed equally curious about me as I was about it:

My sightings of Pine Martens are few, and this was the first time I've ever heard one, as it continued with its chuckles and growls while watching me. For those of you familiar with the Audubon Mammals app, the forty second voice recording of the American Marten is exactly what I heard!

Martens are weasel-like mammals, with a long, bushy tail, pointed snout, and small ears. To better see their large feet, double-click on the photo:

This Marten was brown, with a paler head and underparts, an orange chest, and darker legs:

Snow fell on both of us as it moved around in the tree, magic! 

(best viewed by double-clicking on these photos to enlarge)  

Pine Martens use branches, tree hollows, and squirrel nests as resting sites...

...falling asleep (or as my uncle used to say, "resting one's eyes): 

Martens frequent the suet feeders in Algonquin, but also feed on squirrels, which might explain why a few Red Squirrels in an adjacent tree were quite noisy: 

We said our farewells when I continued on my way, and it was gone when I returned an hour later...  

And how wonderful that my last bird for the trip on my way home was my spark bird, a spectacular subadult Bald Eagle:

Owls and a Muskrat!!??!!

This past week saw a few more interesting and unexpected encounters out in the field, starting with a day trip with Tessa to the open country near Lake Erie. I'd given up hope of seeing a Short-eared Owl after driving around in vain, but as we headed home a pair were spotted right out in the open. I photographed only one of them as the other moved around in the tree:

It gave me great views of its short ear-tufts:

Its yellow eyes followed the moth- like flight of its companion:

The other owl had landed on an upper branch to the right of this one:

I was fortunate to see a pair of Short-eared Owls with some friends during a return visit a few days later. They were thrilled to see these beauties for the first time ever, not that one ever tires of seeing them! This particular Short-eared Owl spent the afternoon in a cedar:

A handsome Red-bellied Woodpecker was seen in the glow of late afternoon lighting: 

Rough-legged Hawks continued to grace the winter skies in Durham, as seen during Sunday's annual Pickering Naturalists' Feeder Tour (and no, it's not just about the feeders, we are allowed to look up as well):

Trumpeter Swans did a flyover in north Pickering: 

This was one of many cats that a few of us wanted to scoop up and take home with us, despite their presence near the bird feeders that kept most birds away:

We were told by our hosts to check our cars before departing as the cats frequently hitch rides with visitors!

By far the most bizarre encounter this week occurred yesterday on a back road when I easily spotted something dark and furry foraging around in the snow:

I pulled over to park, walking back to where I'd first seen it, fully expecting whatever it was to be long gone, but in fact this muskrat continued to walk towards me! At times it was almost hopping, its long tail dragging in the snow:

Muskrats are mainly nocturnal but during cold winters can be active in the daytime, taking advantage of any available sun and warmer temperatures: 

Its larger hind feet are partly webbed and act as paddles while swimming, with smaller front feet (and very long claws!):

It continued to walk towards me, and in fact I had to back away for my lens to focus:

Muskrats have poor vision, hearing and smell, so it was oblivious to my presence: 

  

By now it's actually wandered under my car and I waited for it to come out from the other side but it didn't. Another car approached from the opposite direction, so I made sure it didn't wander out and get hit, but saw that it was quite close to one of my front tires (in fact I wondered if it liked the warmth from the car, even though it was turned off). 

The muskrat didn't budge and at one point it looked like it was going to crawl up into my wheel well, so in the end I clapped my hands and shouted like an idiot to get its attention. It finally clued in and moved out from under the car, safely off the road and back into the frozen marshy area. It wasn't spooked by me in the least, as it meandered away! 

Another view of its tail that's flattened on the sides, acting as a rudder while swimming:

This was my last view of the muskrat as it made its not-so-hasty retreat. It's no wonder they have so many predators, including minks, raccoons, owls, hawks, foxes, coyotes, and of course humans: 

The last time I had a similar close encounter was a few years ago when a Porcupine waddled right up to me after I was taking some sunrise shots...

  

...and in golden lighting, no less!

I can't wait to see what my next close wildlife encounter will be, no doubt it will be equally surprising!