Outdoor Ontario

Photography => Ontario Birds => Topic started by: cosmo3667 on January 26, 2013, 04:57:25 PM

Title: Short Eared Owls
Post by: cosmo3667 on January 26, 2013, 04:57:25 PM

As I started my walk encountered a Large Red-tailed Hawk got some nice in flights. I then set out to walk s and startled up 3 Short Eared Owls which were on the ground and I presume had a meal on the go, never saw them till they took flight. I kinda of tried to follow them around as I looked for other birds but they are super Skittish and took to the skies before I could get remotly close. I saw 3 Kestrals and few more Red-tails, couple Mourning doves, could hear some Chickadees. Judging by the tracks in the snow there is a good food supply in these hills vole tracks and tunnels noted , also saw rabbit tracks and droppings too. As I returned to my car a Kestral was hunting in the field directly behind my car and would swoop down on the field and then return to the tree to continue watching. So all in all a good day dispite not seeing the Barred owl but I'll take the sighting of 3 short eared Owls, the Red-tails and the Kestral as a good day.
Please confirm its a short earred owl granted not the best pics but close as I could get.

(http://imageshack.us/a/img823/7414/shortearedowl6.jpg) (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/823/shortearedowl6.jpg/)

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(http://imageshack.us/a/img5/9563/shortearedowl5.jpg) (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/5/shortearedowl5.jpg/)

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(http://imageshack.us/a/img339/4272/shortearedowl4.jpg) (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/339/shortearedowl4.jpg/)

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(http://imageshack.us/a/img809/781/shortearedowl3.jpg) (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/809/shortearedowl3.jpg/)

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(http://imageshack.us/a/img35/2820/shortearedowl2.jpg) (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/35/shortearedowl2.jpg/)

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(http://imageshack.us/a/img713/7451/shortearedowl.jpg) (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/713/shortearedowl.jpg/)

Uploaded with ImageShack.us (http://imageshack.us)

Title: Short Eared Owls
Post by: thouc on January 26, 2013, 05:05:24 PM

Yes, Short-eared Owls, very nice find!

Title: Re: Short Eared Owls
Post by: Palo on January 27, 2013, 06:41:02 AM

Great find! Congrats.

Title: Re: Short Eared Owls
Post by: Flyingbass on February 04, 2013, 03:08:57 PM

Was this at Downsview, these shots are great!

Title: Re: Short Eared Owls
Post by: Napper on February 04, 2013, 05:13:29 PM

Two/Three years ago I spotted  a couple of Short Eared Owl's at the Downview airport.

I only saw them in flight early morning (5:30 am till around 6:30 at this time of year) when there was snow on the ground or during a

snow event. During the day they stay on the ground and blend in.  I am surprised they aren't harrassed

by the Red tails and all of the Kestrels in the area.

As I was leaving work today just after 3:00 pm, I spotted a male Kestrel visiting one of the nest sites

side of building (DH Aircraft).

Napper :D