Subject: [Tweeters] Marymoor morning raptor parade
Date: Oct 4 19:06:45 2007
From: mattxyz at earthlink.net - mattxyz at earthlink.net


Hi Tweets -
As Michael mentioned, I had a good start to the rainy day at Marymoor
today. After watching the Barn Owl over the East Meadow, on and off
from 6:30 onwards, I headed to the sparrow piles at about 7:00. From
that vantage point, looking out into the meadow near the model
airplane field, I caught a glimpse of a SHORT-EARED OWL. As it flew
around, I noticed it was being chased. By a SHARP-SHINNED HAWK. And
then I noticed a second Sharpie. Watching the 2 Sharpies pursue the
Short-eared, I soon noticed that the BARN OWN had joined in the
chase. For a while I had great views of the parade of a Short-eared
Owl, 2 juvie Shapies & a Barn Owl all flying over the meadow.
Eventually one of the Sharpies broke off and landed in a tree near
the sparrow piles. Right next to a perched COOPER'S HAWK. It was
quite nice to have a ready-made size & tail comparison of them. The
Sharpie & Coopers traded some very unhappy sounding words before the
Sharpie decided to move on. Perhaps most surprising was that no crows
joined in the chase -- maybe the rain kept them away this morning?

For those interested in watching the owl show at Marymoor, here's my
advice. Park at the start of the trail that runs between the
off-leash dog area and the East Meadow. The sparrow piles, right at
the beginning of that trail have traditionally been a good vantage
point for Short-eared Owls at dawn or dusk when they are around. Barn
Owl, present year round, tends to work the far edge of the meadow --
I generally walk down the path until I'm past where the new gate to
the off-leash dog area. Watch across the meadow along the tree line
[I believe this would be the south east edge of the meadow]. I
generally try to be in place an 45 minutes to an hour before sunrise
to wait for the Barn. Once it is light enough for multiple crows to
be overhead, it is usually too late for Barn. I'd say I see Barn Owl
about 50% of the time when I'm out there . Short-eared Owls have
usually been active much closer to sunrise [and even after sunrise],
naturally. Some years, they seem to just past through Marymoor around
this time of year. Other years, they stick around longer into the
winter.

Good owling--

Matt Bartels
Seattle, WA