Willow Run Airport Snowy Owls - 26 Dec 2013

Robin and I took a quick run out to Willow Run Airport (Romulus, Wayne Co., MI) to look for Snowy Owls.  Up to four birds have been spotted there in the past week, and although I wasn't necessarily needing to photograph any I thought it might be nice to get out of the house after Christmas.

We drove the service drive along the south side of the airport and did not see any birds. However, a Merlin rocketed past the car and scared up a small flock of Snow Buntings near the west entrance to the airport.  

When we turned around and headed back we spotted one Snowy Owl on a white signpost near the Observation Tower, and another a short distance later on top of the hill next along the south service drive.  I grabbed a few pics w/ the D7100 and 300/2.8 VRII before heading home.  Another large flock of Snow Buntings were foraging at the base of the hill, but I could not locate any Lapland Longspurs.

Willow Run Airport (restricted access), Wayne, Michigan, US
Dec 26, 2013 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Protocol: Traveling
3.0 mile(s)
Checklist Comments:     Up to 4 birds have been reported here in the past week.
3 species

Snowy Owl (Bubo scandiacus)  2     Up to 4 birds had been reported this week. One on the hill next to the landfill to the south of the airport and 1 on sign post next to observation tower.
Merlin (Falco columbarius)  1
Snow Bunting (Plectrophenax nivalis)  24

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S100935285

This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)