[EBB Sightings] Short-Eared Owl In Hayward - 11-18-2006

Saturday morning from 10-11:30 I birded the Hayward shoreline from the end of Winton Road.  The highlight was a SHORT-EARED OWL that I first saw take off while walking north next to the bay (near the park bench that overlooks the bay).  It took off from north of the bridge over the slough, flew south at a height of about 20-30 feet, roughly 20 yards offshore over the bay.  It flew south past me, and I was able to watch it continue south about a quarter mile south of where I was standing, before it appeared to land in the marsh.

It was a great view of a great bird, with the sun at my back.  Absolutely beautiful!  I moved out to California ten years ago and saw a Short-Eared Owl at the Don Edwards SFB Refuge in Newark on my first day in California.  Today's owl was the second one that I've seen in California, but I'm hoping that in the future they'll repeat more often than once per decade.

Other birds seen included SAVANNAH, GOLDEN-CROWNED, and SONG SPARROWs, HORNED LARKS, HERMIT THRUSH, AMERICAN PIPIT.  The tide was high and just starting to go out, so no shorebirds were present.  A large flock of SURF SCOTERS, RUDDY DUCKS, CLARKE's and WESTERN GREBES, SCAUP (Unidentified as to Greater or Lesser), AMERICAN WIGEON, BUFFLEHEADS, and PINTAIL were in the bay.  Even with a scope the views weren't that great.  Several raptors were around including NORTHERN HARRIERS, WHITE-TAILED KITES, RED-TAILED HAWKS, and a PEREGRINE FALCON.

Another interesting experience was nearly stepping on a jackrabbit while walking across one of the grassy fields.  Those things can motor when scared and getting away!  Ridiculously fast!

Andy Pedler - Newark, CA


 
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