Evening Birdwatching
Tonight a few of us from the Cattaraugus County Bird Club went in search of the Short-eared Owl! It has been a few years since anyone has recorded them within the county and I would like to add them to my county list. In years past we have traveled to see these birds in the neighboring counties. I still remember that one owl in Genesee County that landed on a telephone pole right next to our vehicle. It would hunt the field right next to us and then return back to that same pole. If only I had my camera on me!! Then there were those 5 or 6 Short-eared Owls in Niagara County that decided to roost in someone’s Christmas decorated shrubs right next to their house. They looked like very large ornaments but these ornaments would disappear one by one once it got dark. I now wonder what we might encounter here in Cattaraugus County?
We started the adventure in an area heavily population by the Amish because they have what we think is the Short-eared Owl’s preferred hunting habitat (hay stacks, large open fields and fence post). Early evening we located our first of the seasons Northern Shrike and light phased Rough-legged Hawk (sorry about the picture below, it was quite a distance away). I hope that in the next few months that I will see more of them and get some better pictures to post.
About 20 minutes before dusk, Tim saw an accipiter in the tree which we needed to investigated closer. It was spooked and as soon as it took flight we were confident that it was an immature Coopers Hawk. But, what we didn’t expect was that it would be chased by another bird of prey. Tim was outside the vehicle with a better view and asked if we had seen the Merlin!! Mike and I quickly jumped out of the vehicle and said, “Merlin”?? Tim pointed to the tree that it was sitting in (photo below) and became very excited. After we all got some wonderful looks we tried to get closer and of course it took flight again. We tried to follow it but the Merlin disappeared while chasing some starlings. I strongly cropped this picture to make it full framed but the picture of it in flight shows its field marks better. This is a species who’s population in this area have been increasing over the past few years and could be our first winter record for this bird. No doubt that it was the best bird of the night.
Obviously we didn’t find any Short-eared Owls but we did had a fun trying. I will be attending a workshop organized by The Nature Conservancy for the next few days. I am not sure when I will be able to update the blog again but I promise to put some good stuff on here soon.
Mon@rch's Nature Blog 
Sounded like a fun and interesting night. I almost wrecked my truck the other night trying to catch a glimpse of a hawk flying over my truck on the highway..never did figure out what type it was, but my wife sure punched me in the arm…haha.
10 December 2006 at 11:10 pm
You probably would have gotten more of a punch if you did worse than scare her!
10 December 2006 at 11:35 pm
Beautiful pics monarch, Merlin is simply magnificent, now I need to unpack and quickly eat dinner to catch up on your entries. So glad to hear their population is making a comeback when so many raptors are not.
PS Guess what was checking out my venison suet last week on my deck….a red tail hawk who had all my squirrels and even the ravens voicing up a storm, wish I had my camera ready 😦
11 December 2006 at 9:32 pm
talkingtotrees – thanks but only wish I had taken a better shot of the Merlin! I love to have those ravens getting upset with the Red-tails!! Would have loved to see that picture!
11 December 2006 at 10:08 pm
Sorry you didn’t have better luck in your SEOW search, but you got a great sunset shot. You have a wonderful blog, mon@rch, and I appreciate your kind comments on mine.
11 December 2006 at 10:27 pm
Thanks Jim and thanks for visiting! I only wish I could have gotten one Merlin shots like your Short-eared Owl or even your Peregrine Falcon shots!
11 December 2006 at 10:46 pm
Oh how cool- a Merlin lucky you.
A Pileated has been in the Park but I have yet
to see him, still hoping
13 December 2006 at 11:40 am
Thanks Marg and was very happy to see these guys again! Hope you get to see the Pileated!! They are such fun birds! Maybe you will get the chance to band one??
13 December 2006 at 11:14 pm
We would LOVE too! maybe this weekend 😉
14 December 2006 at 4:31 am