Subject: [Tweeters]: Short-eared Owl Show two days in a row.
Date: Feb 17 18:17:36 2008
From: Kevin Mack - kevin_mack at comcast.net


Hi all,



On Saturday I led a field trip up to the Skagit flats and refuge. Our group
was treated to excellent views of Short-eared Owls having aerial duels with
Northern Harriers and with one another from the access at the end of Rawlins
Road. At one point we saw at least three owls and two harriers in the air
at once. We also had a fairly close encounter with a Northern Shrike that
was flying from perch to perch out in the refuge. We had good views of an
American Kestrel on a telephone wire along Maupin road. We also made a stop
at Camano Island State Park and spotted Common Loons, Red-breasted
Mergansers, Common Goldeneyes, Harlequin Ducks, Horned Grebes, Buffleheads,
and other assorted waterfowl.



My wife and I returned to the dike at the end of Maupin Road this morning
and the Owls were still present, and still squabbling among themselves.
Tundra and Trumpeter Swans were moving in waves overhead, and we could see
several thousand Snow Geese heading inland to the east of our position. The
owls were definitely the highlight of both days though. Full trip lists are
below.



2/16/08- Skagit Flats and Refuge

Bald Eagle

American Kestrel

Cooper's Hawk

Red-tailed Hawk

Northern Harrier

Short-eared Owl

Tundra Swan

Trumpeter Swan

Canada Goose

Northern Pintail

Mallard

Great Blue Heron

Rock Pigeon

Northern Flicker

American Crow

Song Sparrow

Northern Shrike

Brewer's Blackbird

Red-winged Blackbird

European Starling

Western Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull



2/16/08- Camano Island State Park

Common Loon

Red-breasted Merganser

Horned Grebe

Bufflehead

Harlequin Duck

Common Goldeneye

Great Blue Heron

Bald Eagle

American Crow

Song Sparrow



2/17/08- Skagit Flats and Refuge

Snow Goose

Tundra Swan

Trumpeter Swan

Northern Pintail

Green-winged Teal

Mallard

Bufflehead

Red-tailed Hawk

Cooper's Hawk

Bald Eagle

Northern Harrier

Short-eared Owl

Great Blue Heron

Killdeer

Marsh Wren

American Robin

Brewer's Blackbird

Red-winged Blackbird

Song Sparrow

Golden-crowned Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Spotted Towhee

European Starling

Rock Pigeon





Kevin Mack

Edmonds, WA

www.goatislandimages.com <http://www.goatislandimages.com/>