FreeLists / va-bird / [va-bird] Short-eared Owls, Fauquier County

[BlkVulture@xxxxxxx]

As many as a couple dozen Short-eared Owls can be found at dusk as  they 
leave their daytime roost and head out to hunt over fields in northern  
Fauquier 
County.  There are inherent difficulties in viewing these birds,  as the area 
has narrow roads and enough local traffic that crowds of birders  could 
negatively impact the residents that live right at the best and safest  spot to 
view 
these birds.  There is also an issue of disturbance to the  owls themselves, 
as they sometimes roost on the ground in the field twenty or  thirty yards from 
the best viewing spot.  It is possible to put these birds  in flight earlier 
than they ideally would do so.  I strongly request anyone  that heads out to 
see these birds use great care, consideration, and caution  while doing so. 
 
The birds are north of the town of Marshall in Fauquier, essentially at the  
village of Rectortown.  To get there, find your way to the intersection of  US 
17 South and I-66.  I believe this is exit 27.  Head north from the  offramp, 
which is probably business 17.  In about half a mile, there is a  light at 
the intersection of Route 55.  Cross this, and the road becomes  Route 710, 
Rectortown Road.  Take this 4.5 miles to where Route 624  (Crenshaw Road) 
enters 
from the east.  Go one-half mile to the entrance of  what is essentially a 
giant cabana with a steel roof.  There is a cable  across the driveway, but 
room 
for three or four cars to pull off safely.   From here, look across the street 
and scan for the owls.  There are two  clusters of saplings on a hedgerow to 
the north where there is often ten or more  birds perched at dusk.  Over a 
dozen Northern Harriers can be found here at  times as well.
 
Crenshaw is very narrow here, and has deep ditches.  It might be  possible to 
arrive there and find no intelligent place to park.  If so, use  your best 
judgment, but please don't park on people's lawns or in their  driveways.  
There 
are about five houses here, and I am betting they won't  appreciate it.  It 
seems obvious that no one would do this, but worse has  happened at other 
similar situations.  Please don't stand in the street  with scopes.  There is 
plenty of room on the opposite side of the street  from the fields to watch 
these 
birds from.  
 
These birds have been reported here in years past, but at that time,  the 
best viewing seemed to be on Route 710.  However, the only place to get  a car 
off the road here is at gates to fields, which is very muddy and cars will  get 
stuck here, and tear up the entrances.  Route 710 is also a major road  in 
this part of the county, and traffic legally drives at 45 MPH here, and if  
there 
are cars parked along it, most of these drivers will not appreciate  it.  
Please be considerate of those drivers and residents in the area and  confine 
viewing to the area along Crenshaw. 
 
Thanks,
 
Todd
 
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Todd Michael  Day
Jeffersonton, Virginia,  USA
BlkVulture@xxxxxxx
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