As Gary Kohlenberg forwarded from Geneseebirds-L, Wade & Melissa Rowley reported 5 Short-eared Owls seen from the DEC headquarters at the end of Morgan Road in Savannah on Tuesday. They went back yesterday and saw only 3. Both days the Rowleys said the owls showed up about 5:55pm. So I was planning on arriving about then until Bob told me 5:30 was showtime.
Ann Mitchell & I had taken a slow ride up the west side of the lake starting at 2pm, and when Bob called we had just arrived at the open water (with lots of Tundra Swans and at least 6 Mute Swans) by Lake Rd in Bridgeport, Seneca Falls (north of Lower Lake Rd) across from Harris Park. The ice appears continuous south from the corner of Lake and Lower Lake Roads (East Bayard St) to the Canoga Marsh, although we didn't actually drive Lower Lake Rd to be certain there were no polynyas.
We went directly to Morgan Rd arriving at 5:20 to find the owls already active. Apparently today they started before 5pm, maybe because it had been windy and snowy until then. Anyway, I counted ten (10) Short-eared Owls in a single scope sweep from the DEC parking lot. Several of these may have been visible from Carncross Road, and some were quite distant towards Railroad Road. On a couple of occasions we saw owls perched on utility poles fairly close. Several times I saw an owl suddenly drop to the snow and twice I saw one arise carrying a vole. There was also some chasing, some barking, and also their usual deep wingbeats and erratic flight. All of this occurred while there was still plenty of daylight for viewing. I don't know if photographers would be satisfied, but we were thrilled. We stayed until 6pm. Lots of warm clothes and a telescope are recommended.
I knew Short-eared Owls are rather communal in winter, but this is the first time in years I have seen so many in one area. Sibley shows females being rather tawny below, but all the birds I noticed looked whitish bellied, like males in his pictures. Maybe the color difference at a distance in flight is more subtle than I was expecting, or is the ratio really this skewed here?
--Dave Nutter
Having tried several times recently - and unsuccessfully - for Short-
eared Owls, and having heard that a couple were sighted recently on
Morgan Road, I drove north this afternoon to see what I could find. I
had a good conversation with Frank Morlock at the DEC headquarters. He
reported trapping two SEOWs two days before and having seen more than
that in the vicinity. He mentioned that his watch usually began at
5:15, and that the first owls showed up at around 5:30.
With half an hour to kill, I drove over to Van Dyne Spoor Rd
("Sandhill Crane Unit"). I was rewarded with two SEOWs foraging over
the far SW dike at 5:10. At that point I spoke with Dave Nutter who,
with Ann Mitchell, was headed to Morgan Rd. Since I figured there
would be good coverage there, I raced across town to try and reach
Seneca Meadows before dark. I got there in plenty of time, walked out
to a spot overlooking the huge north meadow, and waited. At 5:40 the
first SEOW showed up and was soon joined by a second. They foraged out
to the west and then the north, occasionally dropping out of sight
into the vegetation for 5 minutes or so. Another SEOW came in from the
south, followed by a Red-tailed Hawk. The hawk eventually perched at
the edge of the far woods, and the owl continued to work back and
forth until I left at around 6:10.
I spoke once more with Dave, who reported some unbelievable number of
owls at Morgan Road. I look forward to reading his post!
Bob McGuire
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