[EBB Sightings] Eastshore State Park Short-Eared(?) Owl

Yesterday at Eastshore State Park (just east of the Berkeley Marina) at 
about 7:30 pm, I observed a large tawny owl hunting low over the fields in 
the northeastern portion of the protected area.  It was from a distance, and 
at first I thought it was a barn owl (which it still could've been).  I 
didn't get great looks, but the bird's belly looked a bit too patterned for 
a barn owl, and also it seemed kind of early for a barn owl to be out.  I 
don't know how common either species is in the area - I'd love to know if 
anyone else has seen and identified it more positively.

The only other bird of note was a White-Tailed Kite flying overhead.

-Julia Putman
Berkeley

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