[birding] Owls, owls and more owls at Finley

[Lisa Millbank]

Sunday 12/28
Don and I started out early at Finley, expecting a day of rain.  We were clad in waterproof nylon from head to toe.  The weather turned out much better than the forecast, so our outfits got a bit clammy and we punctured many little holes in them as we pushed through the blackberry vines.  But it was a great adventure.

North of Bald Top, a shy HERMIT THRUSH flew before I could raise my binoculars.  A VARIED THRUSH, RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET, and a couple of WINTER WRENS were singing, although their voices were a little rusty. RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKERS and HAIRY WOODPECKERS were calling. 
Many GREAT HORNED OWL pairs are feeling excited about their upcoming breeding season and are singing their duets in the middle of the day.  We heard at least 3 pairs today.  As we walked, Don spotted a big brown bird flying into a tall stand of Douglas-fir.  It was a BARRED OWL, which was very exciting.  It was the best look at this beautiful owl either of us has ever had.  I appreciated his deep brown eyes, and really nice stripes.  See the video stills at http://groups.google.com/group/mid-valley-nature/browse_thread/thread/43f74422c022bb73.   

We saw an unusual sight at dusk from the prairie overlook platform.  I noticed a bunch of floppy-winged, short-tailed large birds coming from the east.  After a brief moment of confusion, it was clear that this was a flock of 7 SHORT-EARED OWLS!  I think of them as birds you might see one or two of, if you're lucky.  They flapped and glided, mothlike, over the south part of the north prairie, and the middle prairie.  A huge congregation of NORTHERN HARRIERS swept up into the flock of owls (I believe more owls showed up, totaling around a dozen), until there were at least 25 owls and harriers swirling around together, looking like an autumn "kettle" of Turkey Vultures.  Some of the birds were either frolicking or sparring aggressively.  I believe the cold and snow north of us has pushed many Short-eared Owls, and maybe harriers too, out of their normal winter quarters.  Don got a so-so video of the owls.     

We have more about the mammals, amphibans, plants and fungi at http://groups.google.com/group/mid-valley-nature/browse_thread/thread/43f74422c022bb73.

Lisa
www.neighborhood-naturalist.com
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