[texbirds] Belated Short-eared Owl Report from Scurry County

From: Jay Packer <jay@xxxxxx>
To: Texbirds <texbirds@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Thu, 7 Feb 2013 07:28:52 -0600
Hi TexBirds,
I wanted to write about my wife and I's latest birding excursion last
weekend. We we went to Stonewall (home of Aspermont, TX) and Scurry (site
of Snyder, TX) Counties for a little century club birding. Stonewall has
proven harder than average to top 100 in, but we finally accomplished that
goal Saturday.

The Hwy 380 Ponds at 33.133031, -100.223321 are a great place to find ducks
and water birds. Highlights included Gadwall, American Wigeon, Northern
Shoveler, Canvasback, Ring-necked Duck, and Lesser Scaup.

One of the best spots we've found in the county is a wetland located on CR
321 at 33.295442, -100.252989. It, and the large woodlands around it, held
such gems as Ring-necked Duck, House Wren, Marsh Wren, Carolina Wren, Fox
Sparrow, and Swamp Sparrow.

After lunch we headed over to Scurry county, starting with the Snyder Waste
Water Treatment Plant at 32.696553, -100.901728. Highlights included
Gadwall, Ring-necked Duck, Lesser Scaup, Bufflehead, Horned Lark, and
White-throated Sparrow.

We ended the day at Sandy Beach Park, Lake JB Thomas, 32.594003,
-101.141826. The level of the Lake is definitely low compared to its past,
but still substantial in size, especially when you consider how few other
reservoirs are around. Highlights were Mallard, Northern Shoveler,
Green-winged Teal, Canvasback, Ruddy Duck, Double-crested Cormorant,
American White Pelican, Sandhill Crane, Long-billed Dowitcher, Bonaparte's
Gull, and Ring-billed Gull.

But the best bird of the day, which was also the last bird of the day, came
right at dusk. We had a single Short-eared Owl flying over the brushy
vegetation around the lake. We got a fantastic look. This was a lifer for
my wife and only the second time I've ever seen the species. (In fact, my
only prior experience were mere silhouettes over a marshy area, so this was
the first time I've seen field marks, colors, patterns, etc on the
species.) While not rare in the sense of being out of place, it's
definitely a species that is incredibly elusive in my part of the state, at
least based on my 20+ years of birding experience. As I'm running out of
time to elaborate further, I'll paste my field notes on the bird for those
interested...

GPS Coordinates: 32.592717, -101.144666. Fantastic looks. This bird was
seen right at dusk. I initially thought it might be a Northern Harrier, but
despite a poor look, I caught a glimpse of the wing shape and immediately
suspected a Short-eared Owl. I used a little playback and the bird
immediately came in right over our heads, calling softly. All of its field
marks were visible. The most notable was the dark and light pattern on the
upper side of the primaries. The tips of the primaries were dark brown. The
base of the primaries tawny. The underwing was quite pale and tawny. There
were a few dark feathers at the base of the primaries. The upper breast was
streaked but the belly was pale. I think the bird was a female (because the
belly was tawny instead of white), but I can't say for certain as I wasn't
specifically focusing on this field mark. The face was pale with dark
feathers around the yellow eyes. The flight was distinctive and buoyant,
very much reminiscent of a nighthawk's flight. The habitat consisted of
tall and weedy grasses and bushes, the kind which grow along the margins of
lakes that have receded. This was a lifer for Amy and only the second time
I've ever seen the species. My first sighting was of two birds that were
mere silhouettes. Thus in a way, this is the first time I've truly seen the
bird too. It was spectacular way to finish the day.

--
Jay Packer


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[texbirds] Belated Short-eared Owl Report from Scurry County

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