Off the west coast of NA, it seems that most owl reports are of
Short-eared. During a fall pelagic birding trip out of Ucluelet (Vancouver
Island) many years ago we saw a Short-eared about 25 NM offshore. More
surprising was a Short-eared about 220 NM off central OR that visited our
research ship while on station above the Juan de Fuca ridge. The date
suggests that it was a displaced migrant (19 April). This fall we had 3
different Burrowing Owls visit our research ship: 60 NM SW of Pt Arena; 110
NM SW of Pt Arena and 45 NM SW of San Clemente Island, all off southern CA.
The second bird remained on the ship for 3 days, picking off stray warblers
and 1 Leach's Storm-Petrel before moving on to greener (bluer?) pastures.

Michael Force
2304 Prince Albert Street
Vancouver, B.C.
Canada
V5T 3W5
(604) 873-6184