I wanted to make my first year bird something different than one of the "backyard regulars", but the local Barred Owls couldn't be heard over the sound of fireworks that were bringing in the new year. Around 7 am I woke up with an increased awareness of sounds I was hearing outside. Carolina Wren. Check. First bird of the year, and I couldn't have asked for better weather (60 degrees F on January 1!?) to begin the year.
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| (Carolina Wren at Dutch Gap Conservation Area) |
I birded Dutch Gap Convservation Area very briefly in the morning and decided to make the trip to Louisa County to stake out the Short-Eared Owls that have been seen for the past month.
Dutch Gap provided a good variety of birds, but nothing out of the ordinary or unexpected. I reached the intersection of Rt. 15 and Rt. 640 around 2 hrs before sunset.
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| (Northern Harrier in Louisa County, VA) |
A staggering 10 harriers were seen, and around 5:15 PM (after a long, depressing rain shower) the first Short-Eared Owl flew over the road. Soon after, 3 more owls joined. An awesome spectacle of nature and niche hunting, the changing of "Predatory Shifts" really is an amazing thing to watch. As soon as the harriers finish their hunting for the day, the owls take over, providing us with the avian version of "Changing of the Guard".
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| ( Waiting for the SEOW's in Louisa County, VA) |
When are we doing a VA pelagic?
ReplyDeleteHi Jack,
ReplyDelete"Changing of the guard" a keen observation regarding Short-eared Owls taking the field after Northern Harriers. Well put. I would also say you represent a changing of the guard from John Vanderpoehl's national quest in 2011 to your Virginia quest in 2012. Carry on and good luck!
Tom