[va-richmond-general] American bittern, Barred owl, Osprey, no GHOW--The Wetlands (JRPS)

Went back to look for the bittern this afternoon about 6pm and finally
decided it must have moved on.  Then it fell off its perch and quickly began
to impersonate the brown twiggy stuff it landed in!  It is not very easy to
see that pool from the blinds at the pond, but the approach has less water
to navigate if you approach from the blinds instead of from the cedar or the
trail behind the pond.  Turns out Larry has seen maybe two of them in the 30
years they have lived near the Wetlands and he said they usually only stay
about one day.  Further down the trail behind the pond there was a barred
owl in a pine by the bridge.  I did not see or hear any young nearby, though
at first it seemed to be standing watch.  This is very close to where I have
consistently found one great horned for several weeks now.  The barred owl
flew upriver a short distance and seemed to be hunting, and I saw an osprey
perched above the river while I was watching the owl.  Looked in the usual
places for the great horned with no luck.  Last saw it on Friday the 28th.
April 18th was the fledging date the first time I ever found a barred owl
nest at the Wetlands, so I guess they may be following their usual routine
after all.  I have forgotten to mention that I found a turkey feather back
in that area between the pond and the river about two weeks ago.  Has anyone
seen turkeys there this year?

 

Jan

Richmond

Other related posts: