Jean Iron and I birded Carden Alvar on Friday 14 January 2011. We were graciously received by Ginny Moore in her backyard. She has created an oasis for winter birds. At her feeders, Ginny has about 65 Evening Grosbeaks, many Common REDPOLLS (we saw no Hoary Redpolls), Blue Jays, Downy, Hairy, and Pileated Woodpecker, both nuthatches, juncos and American Tree Sparrows. The Evening Grosbeaks tend to leave by 2:00 p.m. I digiscoped a video of the Evening Grosbeaks which is posted on Jean's website where there are also photos from Ginny's bird yard. Here is the link: http://www.jeaniron.ca/2011/evgrosredpolls.htm Ginny and a couple of friends, saw the Northern Hawk Owl Friday morning, but we missed it in the late afternoon. It does move around a bit, but has been returning to the original sighting on Kawartha Road 6 just east of Simcoe Road 46. We saw flocks of Snow Buntings on Kawartha Road 35 (Victoria Road). We also spotted a female Snowy Owl in Holland Marsh on top of the last hydro/telephone pole in the first row of poles running north off Ravenshoe Road when you reach the flats west of Leslie. Eleanor Beagan Toronto etbeagan@sympatico.ca Eleanor Beagan etbeagan@sympatico.ca