Saturday, December 29, 2007 Saw-whet & Short-eared Owls @ Pole Farm

Short-eared Owl:

Today turned out to be our “Day of the Owl” for the year of 2007. All told we racked up 4 different species (only heard a Screech owl returning our calls this morning but didn’t get a look at him) and a possible pellet from a 5th. The Morning started with a cooperative Eastern Screech Owl who returned banter with us for a good minute or two. Then we came across a beautiful adult Northern Saw-whet Owl who sat and let us watch him for some time before we left him to his nap. A Great-horned Owl was being chased right near us by a group of angry American Crows and Blue Jays. We ended the amazing day with 5 different (conservatively could have been closer to 8 ) Short-eared Owls hunting right above our heads and posing for pictures. At one point two SEs and a Northern Harrier came together over a piece of something! The Harrier made off with the kill but this day definitely belonged to the Owls.

Northern Saw-whet Owl:

Short-eared Owl: