In conifers south of Richardson Nature Center one, or more likely two, great-horned owls were circling among and around the stand of trees to distance themselves from people. There seemed to be some kind of orienteering race in progress, which resulted in an uptick in off-trail traffic. On at least a half dozen occasions, we stood in silent awe as the bird(s) winged noiselessly--and sometimes very closely--past us.
Laura Cobles, Kelly Scott, Diana Doyle, and I had found what may be their nest; whenever agitated, they seemed to gravitate back in this direction, though we never witnessed them leaving or entering the nest. There were also crows presenting serious harassment at one point, so perhaps they avoided giving away the nest location. While we were in the pine plantation, a huge flock--many, many dozens--of sandhill cranes passed overhead in formation and full voice. There was also a very high fly-over by a harrier, plus a turkey vulture and an unidentified hawk. At the nearby wetland were at least 2 male and 2 female bluebirds actively feeding and singing, and in the mudflats, a killdeer was foraging. Pheasants crowed vigorously north of the Nature Center parking lot. Afterwards we visited Old Cedar Avenue, and located the possible saw-whet owl pellets that Jen Vieth had seen on the trail to the Hogback pond. From under the highway bridge we saw wood ducks, hooded and common mergansers, shoveler, widgeon, gadwall, bufflehead, c.goldeneye, ring-necked ducks, scaup and coots among the mallards. By the parking lot there was a pileated woodpecker. Linda Whyte
