Coming down 96 shortly after 4 today, I saw a raptor flying/hunting in a field that immediately made me think of a Short-eared Owl. I couldn’t stop and take a better look, but the way it was acrobatically flying/swooping definitely made me think of shortie, and I saw enough of the topside to notice the absence of a white rump patch. Not a Northern Harrier. It was buffy pale underneath, but didn’t get a good enough look to notice any distinguishing marks, although appeared to lack a belly band.
I saw it on the west side immediately north of the Dollar General. There’s actually another building just north of DG, same side of 96, maybe owned by NYSEG? Their driveway would get you a good view of the ag field to the NNW with cover of the tree line. If anyone wants better directions, feel free to email me directly. I wish I had the time to look today! I’d be interested to know if anyone’s seen any in the Finger Lakes National Forest recently? Thanks! -- (copy & paste any URL below, then modify any text "_DOT_" to a period ".") Cayugabirds-L List Info: NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsWELCOME_DOT_htm NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsRULES_DOT_htm NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave_DOT_htm ARCHIVES: 1) mail-archive_DOT_com/cayugabirds-l@cornell_DOT_edu/maillist_DOT_html 2) surfbirds_DOT_com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) aba_DOT_org/birding-news/ Please submit your observations to eBird: ebird_DOT_org/content/ebird/ --
