[TN-Bird] TN - Short-eared Owl day hunting- Ross's/Snow Hybrid and Cackling Geese
- From: OLCOOT1@xxxxxxx
- To: tn-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Mon, 24 Jan 2005 07:45:46 EST
Jan. 22, 2005
Lake Co. TN
Lauderdale Waterfowl Refuge
Lauderdale Co, TN
While scanning the huge gull flocks, I had a Short-eared Owl fly right past
my truck as it hunted a ditch line off 78 highway. It was 1:30 PM with partly
sunny skies and I watched the bird for over an hour, taking photos as it
came back by me time and time again. It conveniently sat down near the truck
in
the corn field on one occasion for a few quick photos. I'll post the photos
soon. Evidently the high winds Saturday night prevented this bird from finding
any food and it just said "to hell with this stereotype thing". Every time
I've seen these wondrous birds hunting in the day, the wind has howled the
night before.
The number of Snow, Ross's and Greater White-fronted is phenomenal in the
area, tornado like clouds can be seen slowly circling to the ground. I found
what had to be a blue morph Snow and Ross's cross and got a very poor distant
shot, blurred by the wind and heat waves. I've spent many hours scanning flocks
but this is a first for me. The bird had a dark patch of blue on the back
and a mottled band across its chest. The bill was the right size but light
rosy
pink in color, it was standing with two Ross's in the edge of a huge mixed
flock of geese at the Phillippy Pits.
At Lauderdale Waterfowl Refuge in Lauderdale Co, I found 5 species of geese
among the 20 species of waterfowl present. Single Redhead and Goldeneye along
with a few Canvasback, helped the species total. I was able to get distant
but comparative photos of Lesser Canada and 2 Cackling Geese that were hanging
with the multitude of Mallards. There was also a token giant Canada looming
over the others. Greater White-fronted Geese far outnumbered all the other
geese.
Good Birding!!!
Jeff R. Wilson
OL'COOT / TLBA
Bartlett, TN
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