300 Bird Challenge The Owls of Amherst Island

Birding on Amherst Island as part of the 300 Bird Challenge. We see if we can add any raptors, including hawks and owl species, to our 2024 Big Birding Year. Will we find anything in the Owl Woods? Can we finally get eyes on a Short-eared Owl? Or will it be another bust?
Subscriber and birding friend Nancy joins us on our trip. Thanks to Jamie for being a good sport and letting me have some banter by calling him our "birding nemesis".
*** I have made an oversight in this video. The Owl Woods are private property and the owners' ask that the locations of owls are not live-reported. In this video, I show a Barred Owl within the woods. Although there is a 2.5 week gap between the sighting and the release of this video, that is likely not long enough. Typically, when I show Owl species, I am vague about the location. Apologies for slipping up on this occasion. ***
THANKS EVERYONE FOR HELPING US TO GET TO 1,000 SUBSCRIBERS!!! We really appreciate it.
Please click here to subscribe if you haven't already:
www.youtube.co...
---------------------
BritHikesOntario, is Stu Hall. I'm a displaced Brit... who hikes and goes birding in Ontario, Canada (and sometimes beyond). I'm often joined by my wife, Sara.
---------------------
For more birding content, photos, teasers, the occasional short video and general updates from us - including details about upcoming videos and more behind-the-scenes stuff....
...give me a follow on Social Media:
Twitter: / brithikeson
Threads: threads.net/@B...
Instagram: / brithikesontario
Facebook: / stuhall1

[@markpomeroy3101]

Great video as usual. I met you and Sarah in the Opeongo Road parking lot on your trip to Algonquin just after you had finished filming I think. I took your card expecting to find just another boring KZbin site. Instead, my wife and I have been riveted by your presentation abilities and subscribed immediately after we watched our first Brit Hikes video. You are very engaging and you present just the right amount of info combined with the right amount of anecdotes. You are also a great storyteller. I really hope your subscriber count keeps increasing because I feel there's a great deal of value in your content as well as it being just interesting and entertaining.

[@BritHikesOntario]

I totally get that some random guy bringing up his KZbin channel would engender repressed eye-rolling, don't worry! But thank you for such a genuinely touching comment, greatly appreciated.

[@Handmaiduns]

Really great journey with some cool information! Awesome short eared owls find!

[@BritHikesOntario]

Thanks very much, 'Sis. Get that passport of yours, get over here, and get out birding with us!

[@ouch6386]

Another member of the nemisis birder's group here! what a day! too bad you didn't spot the little Saw-Whet Owl I found in the woods after you headed out! ahah!

[@BritHikesOntario]

Oh, the Saw-whet? That was a stuffed toy. We left it there for you 😉

[@sylvainmathieu3887]

I discovered your channel yesterday and I'm watching all of them. Very interesting, it reminds me when I did my ''big year'' in western Quebec. Gosh, I don't know why, I felt emotional when I saw the Short-eared Owls in your video. Must be the music you added in the background ;)

[@BritHikesOntario]

Hi Sylvain, welcome to the channel. What can I say? I like to occasionally tug on the old heartstrings 😉 Seriously though, that was a fun and emotional moment for all of us, and I wanted to try to capture that 😊

[@TracyBirds]

Congrats on the owls! 🦉

[@BritHikesOntario]

Thank you Tracy!

[@talonc4177]

Great video ! We were there birding that weekend with your nemesis 🤫 haha we were talking to another birder on the ferry during the trip back and someone mentioned there could have been as much as 30 to 40 shortys flying around that night 🤘pretty wicked way to end the trip!

[@BritHikesOntario]

Yep, it was defintely a good climax to a fun trip. I remember you, at least I think it was you, calling out, "They're here!" 😆

[@talonc4177]

@@BritHikesOntario haha yes that was me! I was pretty stoked 😅 my partner and I were there the day before as well and we hadn’t seen any, so when they all came out I couldn’t help myself lol! Thanks again for a great channel 🤘

[@Hummingbirder1]

05:51-05:53 Not a Harrier, that's a Rough-legged Hawk

[@BritHikesOntario]

Thanks for that, we need to get more familiar. Think we saw the white rump and assumed Harrier.

[@Hummingbirder1]

@@BritHikesOntario But but but(t), if you look closely, it's not the rump that's white. It's the tail, with a black terminal band, a prominent ID character for Rough-legged.

[@markpomeroy3101]

@@Hummingbirder1and fortunately/ unfortunately there are usually a ton of R-L hawks on Amherst so it’s easy to confuse with the harriers.

[@matthewrmellor]

Was about to say the same thing!!!

[@SomeonewithaSony]

Congrats on 1000 subs.

[@StephenJStephen_Photography]

Nice video. I would just like to gently point out that the owners of the Owl Woods have specifically asked visitors to NOT report real-time sightings of owls in the owl woods. They want the owls who visit there, during the winter, to have some level of peace especially while they are roosting and resting during the day. There are several signs in the woods that specific indicate the owners wishes. As visitors to those woods we all should respect that request.

[@BritHikesOntario]

Thanks Stephen. This video was delayed by two-and-a-half weeks, in part for this reason. But perhaps that is still too recent and I apologise for any offense or harm that might be caused.

[@StephenJStephen_Photography]

​@BritHikesOntario Thank you for your quick reply Stu. Given the popularity of your channel, you may want to consider informing your viewers about the request of the owners of the Owl Wood's. Perhaps in the description of thus video. In any event, I wish you both well on your adventure to see 300 species this year.

[@brighteyedbirding]

Good stuff as always! Great shots of the Barred Owl and congrats on getting your Rough-legged Hawk!

[@BritHikesOntario]

Thank you. Glad to get another awesome owl onto our count!

[@chrishamilton2858]

Congrats on your lifers! Worth the wait for the Short Eared Owls!

[@BritHikesOntario]

Thank you, Chris! 😊

[@mikemcinnis4303]

Excellent video! I’ve heard so much about Amherst Island and it’s nice to get a better view of it. Hopefully I’ll get there myself at some point. Congrats on the RLHA and SEOW lifers!

[@BritHikesOntario]

Thank you Mike, I certainly recommend it. We've been 4 times over the last few years.

[@withvinayak]

Finally 1k! You guys deserve it! 🙏👍🏼

[@BritHikesOntario]

Thank you :)

[@carolannontario]

wonderful adventure!

[@BritHikesOntario]

Thank you! Was a great trip and a spot we enjoy visiting

[@theavidavian]

Looks like a super spot. Congratulations on the two lifers, what a great feeling to finally see them!

[@BritHikesOntario]

Thanks, was a great trip 😊

[@cliffhawley1768]

Fantastic episode. Short-eared Owls and their weird moth-like flight are always wonderful to see.

[@BritHikesOntario]

Thank you Cliff, appreciate it.

[@karentiel]

Great video! Lots of excitement with two lifers. And wow! that was a lot of owls at one time!! Lots of fun moments in this video.

[@BritHikesOntario]

Thanks Karen, was a fun weekend for sure 😊

[@davearchbell9921]

Congrats on SEOW. I think it's "snowing" wink wink near Elmira.

[@BritHikesOntario]

Thanks Dave. I saw that recently, as well as north of Barrie and near Hamilton. We did try this past weekend... no spoilers 😉

[@darrenrayner4144]

Great video. I keep the bird records for the Kingston Area and saw your ebird reports. Thank you for doing that. Reach out next time you are down this way, I would be happy to join along.

[@BritHikesOntario]

Thank you Darren. Kinda wish we had maybe hit Wolfe for a Snowy!

[@darrenrayner4144]

@@BritHikesOntario not many there this winter either.

[@grahamhall4465]

Another great video, glad you managed to spot the elusive short eared owl. Some great comments also.

[@BritHikesOntario]

Thanks, yeah, there are. Quite touching.

[@lisarobertson7011]

just found this channel - love it and Amherst always delivers.

[@BritHikesOntario]

Thanks for checking us out 😊

[@somsvid]

Hello from a fellow Brit-birder. Here in the UK my wife are subscribers & enjoy all your videos 😀 Congrats on the R-l Hawk and the good flight shot of one: broad-wings, medium long, broad tail, white lower rump and tail contrasting with a wide black tail band, and side on a black lower belly patch. So please look again just after your perched R-l Hawk when you mention "We drove on seeing more harriers..." its a R-l Hawk. And congrats on all those Shorties!

[@BritHikesOntario]

Thanks so much And for the detailed description of what to look for on the Rough-legged Buzzard as it's known over there. We need to get more familiar. Saw the white rump and assumed Harrier. Cheers 👍

[@somsvid]

You very welcome, I've mis ID a few myself over long yrs of birding!@@BritHikesOntario

[@NathanWebb-c5h]

That was terrific! That was awesome you saw two lifers.

[@BritHikesOntario]

Thanks Nathan, we had a great time 😊

[@MrTmiket0007]

Thanks so much for sharing another great video like always and congratulations 🎊 🎉❤

[@BritHikesOntario]

Thanks very much Miguel! 😊

[@jimboc7249]

Congratulations, guys!

[@BritHikesOntario]

Thank you!

[@HawkInTheLens]

Congratulations on hitting that 1K mark! Well deserved with all your great content Also such beautiful shots of the Barred Owl 🦉❤

[@BritHikesOntario]

Thank you... really like that owl. Kinda spooky and very "of the forest".

[@TheBackyardAviaryAdventures]

Really Beautiful footage in this episode. fantastic

[@BritHikesOntario]

Thanks Nigel 😁

[@stefangoldensteinwildlife9929]

Congrats to 1000 subs. Well deserved🎉. I am very close😅. Greets Stefan

[@BritHikesOntario]

Hey Stefen, keep banging out that footage and it'll come in no time! Das ist zehr gut! (about all I remember from the 1 year of German I took in England). Sara and I both subscribe. Thanks for the comment.

[@marcussmith1768]

Congrats on your 2 new lifers guys :)

[@BritHikesOntario]

Thanks a lot. Was a great weekend.

[@darshantalawadekar1296]

What an amazing video !! Glad you got to see the SEOs. Is 6 pm the last ferry back ? On the website they say ferry service from 6 30 am to 1 am

[@BritHikesOntario]

Thank you, appreciate that. No, not the last ferry. Just the last one in daylight. We didn't want to wait for an hour in the dark.

[@darshantalawadekar1296]

@@BritHikesOntario oh I see !

[@TheDutchBirder]

Hi Stu! Did you film the short-eared owls handheld? What camera and lens are you using?

[@BritHikesOntario]

Yes, handheld at 500mm with Nikon full-frame mirrorless.

[@ronaldnuiver5632]

At 5.50 is also a roughlegged hawk instead of a harrier. ! Look at the white tail with black band

[@BritHikesOntario]

Yeah, we see that now. Thanks for the heads-up.

[@LarryGifford-yc5oz]

Small correction, Lake Ontario empties into the St. Lawrence River, not the other way around

[@BritHikesOntario]

Of course, my bad

[@richardjones4080]

Are the species related to a species we see over here in the UK great channel new sub I am a huge bird of prey lover

[@BritHikesOntario]

Hi Richard, I'm not an expert on UK Birds because my interest became more serious once I was in Canada. But I think you get Short-eared Owls over there. Rough-legged Hawk is also over there, but you call it a Rough-legged Buzzard. You get Marsh and Hen Harriers (maybe others?), which are related to the Northerm Harrier. Thanks for your kind words 👍

[@richardjones4080]

@@BritHikesOntario Marsh and Hen harrier and yes the short eared owl

[@erniescabin4256]

😊🦅🦉💕👍

[@BritHikesOntario]

🦉🦉👌👌

[@anvil49]

I bird Amherst every winter. PLEASE respect private property and other birders. We always run into big city birders who dont give a crap about other birders, private property. OR the birds themselves as long as they get there shot. These people ruin it for the rest of us!

[@pondgators]

Congrats on 1k!! I was your 999th! Do you have a Inat account?

[@BritHikesOntario]

Haha thanks and congrats on being a cool number 😁 I think you may have already found me on iNat. I don't necessarily put everything on there, but I use it from time-to-time.

[@pondgators]

Yup I was gonna say that but I already found ya!

[@xiaojie895]

No snowy owl this year , been Amherst last week