[TN-Bird] Short-eared Owls and Harriers

From: "James Campbell" <jmcbrcwarbler@xxxxxxxxxxx>
To: tn-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Date: Wed, 25 Jan 2006 22:50:08 -0500
Yesterday,Tuesday 1-24-06, we went to-the Sequatchie Valley in Bledsoe 
County and saw the Short-eared Owls and Northern Harriers three different 
groups reported in Tn-Birds over the previous nine days. They were at the 
same location ( 0.9 miles east of Highway 127 on Ninemile Crossroads in the 
northern end of the valley.

We arrived at 4 pm EST and immediately saw one female harrier coursing the 
field north of the road beyond the pond area. It soon was on the ground 
eating its prey but we didn't see the capture.Off and on over the next two 
hours two more female/immatures and two adult males joined the action. As it 
was getting dark at 6:04 pm EST on this clear day one, and possibly two, 
owls appeared and the six birds reminded us of a World War I aerial combat 
scene.They didn't seem to be hunting prey as much as they did diving at each 
other. One owl landed in the big tree nearest the pond three times and 
allowed scope views in the fading light. The last raptor was seen at 6:17 pm 
EST.

Among the other species seen or heard at the pond area were:

1 or more Sandhill Cranes- heard only
1 Great-horned Owl- heard only
1 Kestrel
1 Red-tailed Hawk
1 Red-shouldered Hawk
many Redwings
many Meadowlarks
1 Pileated Woodpecker-heard only

Jim and Betty Reid Campbell
Oak Ridge,TN


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[TN-Bird] Short-eared Owls and Harriers

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