[EBB Sightings] Short-eared owls in Byron

Thanks to KatBirdCA for the hot tip. I visited this area by the Byron
Airport on Saturday morning about 10 and found at least 3 short-eared
owls exactly where she said they would be. One was posing on a fence
post and two others were hunting in the field. Also seen were two
white-tailed kites. Two other birders there told me they saw some
burrowing owls, which I somehow missed. But as I left, I spotted a
ferruginous hawk in the field on the east side of Byron Hot Springs. It
flew over me and circled for a minute, giving me great views. 
 
Clark Stanton
San Rafael
 
 
Hi Birders,
 
This afternoon (Monday,  1/15/07), shortly after 3 pm, I saw several 
Short-eared Owls (SEOW) along Byron  Hot Springs Road (CoCo) flying in
broad daylight. 
 Started out with one  perched on a fence post along the road.  After it

flew, it was interacting  with a second SEOW -- not sure if it was
territorial or 
courtship, but they were  diving at each other and vocalizing.  Then a
third 
SEOW appeared in the  area, and then a fourth and fifth!  The birds all 
appeared to be hunting,  although I didn't see them catch any prey.
There was also a 
Northern  Harrier and a Burrowing Owl in the area.
 
The birds were all seen in a  fenced area which is signed as "Byron
Airport 
Habitat Protection Area".  To  get there, turn off the Byron Highway
onto Holey 
Rd., then turn left on Byron  Hot Springs Rd.  The SEOWs were in the
field on 
the right (west) side, from  the intersection down to the first sharp
right 
turn (later, I had one perched  along the road just past the turn).
 
Yesterday at dusk, I saw a SEOW on  Del Valle Rd. in Livermore, at the 
intersection with Mendenhall.  Earlier  that day, I saw two Varied
Thrush (male & 
female) at the north end of the  campground at Lake Del Valle, on the
lawn next 
to the restroom across from the  group camp area.
 
Good birding,
Kathy Robertson
Hayward, CA  

 

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