OHIO-BIRDS Archives

January 2015

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From:
Leslie Sours <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Leslie Sours <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Tue, 6 Jan 2015 20:28:50 -0500
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Bill Whan suggested that we do a better job of sharing observed behavior.  
In the spirit of sharing the site info as well as inspiring others to stay awhile and watch, here goes:

I arrived at Battelle-Darby Wetlands at 4:40 to wait for the Short-Eared Owls to emerge.  For five minutes I watched five Northern Harriers criss-crossing the field, observing two closely dogging a third that had prey.  The prey was dropped…no one got it.

At 4:45, I had incoming owls.  One rose up out of the field directly in front of me, flew at my car at eye level, shook snow off of itself like a dog, then land in the tree right beside the driver-side window and stared in at me.  I managed a quick photo before I lept out of the car, no gloves, camera and bins in a tangle, to find three owls circling the parking lot, barking.  For ten amazing minutes I literally turned in circles watching owls and harriers in every direction.  One owl landed on a fence post by the road.  It eventually began hunting the field across the road.  Another hunted the field right by the lot, diving several times into the grass.  The three would circle back, bark some more, and fly over my head... daring me to take a photo with my now-frozen fingers and near-frozen camera.  By 5:00 they dispersed and headed out over the fields to hunt.  
The show continued over the fields until sunset.  We (the Winsteads had arrived at this point) watched an owl having several encounters with a harrier.  This involved circling, dropping in close, madly flapping wings in a hover of sorts, then breaking off…only to circle back at one another again.

I did post this to eBird and to Facebook, and I am happy to have a SEOW on my January list.  I also extended my stay well past the tick on the list to watch these marvelous birds hunt and interact with one another and with NOHA's.  It was also fun to watch sparrows and juncos go for cover when the owls circled.

Treat yourselves.  Go out to Battelle-Darby.  Get there earlier than dusk.  Park in the lot for the Teal/Harrier trails.  Enjoy ticking off the SEOW for 2015; but more importantly, stay for the spectacle. 
 http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S21228168
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