Too Much Breeze - 10 Feb 2024
Skies were clear this evening and temps were hovering near 50F so I decided to run down to the Antenna Farm before dark to see if any Short-eared Owls were flying. Unfortunately, when I arrived, winds had picked up and it was just beezy enough to discourage any pre-dusk flying.
I did meet Rj Jones and his wife Cheryl. We chatted a bit as the Sun dropped below the sky (and temps) while waiting for some semblance of an owl flight. Horned Larks were chattering away behind us in the plowed field, and a pair of Bald Eagles could be seen soaring over Stoneco Quarry.
Just as they were about to leave we spotted a single Short-eared Owl lift off over the fenceline. I managed a couple of flight shots but the bird was flying away from us. It quickly dropped out of sight so we packed up and left. A second owl was seen just east of the fenceline but also disappeared.
Antenna Farm, Monroe, Michigan, US
Feb 10, 2024 5:00 PM - 6:15 PM
Protocol: Stationary
Checklist Comments: Ptly cloudy, breezy. Cold
5 species
Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) 36
Northern Harrier (Circus hudsonius) 2
Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) 2
Short-eared Owl (Asio flammeus) 2 Continuing. 2 birds started flying shortly after 6 pm and few along fenceline for only 30 seconds before dropping back down. Pic only possible when owl flew up into sky and only then was it flying away from us.
Horned Lark (Eremophila alpestris) 6
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S1
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)
