[EBB Sightings] Lark Bunting at Byron Airport 2/11

Hi everyone-

This afternoon I went over to Byron Airport to look for owls. When I arrived
around 4pm, there were no owls to be seen, so I trolled along Byron Hot
Springs Road for a while, then drove up Armstrong Rd. toward the airport
entrance. At Falcon Rd, I turned in with the intention of turning around.
Then some sparrows caught my eye, and I was pleasantly surprised to see a
female-plumaged LARK BUNTING picking at the roadside gravel. The bird
doesn't seem to have any fear of cars (I trust this won't get it in trouble
someday). Stop immediately on making the turn south onto Falcon, then check
the shoulder on the right. I went back to Holey Road, and around 5pm saw a
distant SHORT-EARED OWL, then drove after it and found it 0.3 miles south of
Holey Road on Byron Hot Springs Road. It had caught a rodent, and fended off
a harrier before settling on a fencepost to swallow its prey. Scope-filling
views.

I saw the CCSP at SJRNWR today. Check CV_Birds for more info.

Mark Miller
San Ramon