[EBB Sightings] short-eared owls on Nimitz Way

This evening along Nimitz Way, in the first clump of pines up the hill
from the Inspiration Point parking lot, and shortly after sundown as the
western rim of the sky glowed tangerine orange over Mt. Tam through the
bishop pines and Jupiter shone to the south, we were startled by
insistent, loud, scratchy, nasal cries emanating  from multiple locations
among the pines.  By chance, we got an excellent view of a moderately
large owl on a limb about 20 feet overhead.  It had a well-rounded head,
lacking any of the "ears" of a great-horned owl, and the face was clearly
not that funny heart shape of a barn owl.  After perusing the bird book
tonight and listening to various calls available on the internet, we've
concluded that it was most likely a group of two to several short-eared
owls, roosting in the pines.

There were also several bats of at least two sizes and a hearty chorus of
cicadas and crickets.

A very special evening treat.