Today I went to Rectortown and Crenshaw Road to view the Owls and Harriers that
have been present recently. I was not disappointed. I arrived about 4:30 p.m.
and observed two Harriers flying around the fields together. These two birds
either immature or females perched together on adjoining fence posts. Other
Harriers arrived so that there were three perched and three in the air. This
included at least two gray males. About 4:50 p.m. a Short-eared owl arrived
and after flying and chasing a Harrier, landed in a tree already occupied by a
Harrier. Another owl was seen flying around the field and perched in one of
the five trees seen from the observation area mentioned in Val Kitchens recent
posting. A third owl was found perched on a low perch in the field. It later
flew away towards the mountains. By 5:15 the light was failing and the show was
over.
An added treat was a gorgeous sunset, along with interesting cloud patterns
primarily resulting from the shearing of contrails by the upper winds. The
mountains took on a beautiful blue to purple cast revealing many layers as the
hills overlapped each other. Add to this the peaceful quiet. All in all a
wonderful afternoon.
All in all a wonderful afternoon that made up for the bumper to bumper traffic
on Rt. 28 in Centerville continuing on to Gainsville on Rt 66 in mid-afternoon
as those who had to work made an early Exodus from Fairfax County to the
rapidly disappearing rural areas of Prince William and Fauquier Counties. The
return from the country via Rt. 50 to Northern Fairfax County with its
thousands of lights both on and off the road brought me back to the reality of
Suburbia.
Ron Staley,
Herndon,Va
