It was a great day for us college hoops fans as GTown put away Marquette and
WV triumphed over #2 UCLA - and by looking out the window, I thought it would
be a great day for SE Owls. So Gerry Hawkins and I headed out West after the
games. Impeded by traffic on I-66, we got to Sky Meadows a little later than
hoped for. We managed to see a few RH WP's near the main gate, and a Kestrel up
near the visitor center. Despite seeing some birds along I-66, we did not see
anything soaring above the ridge. We did a quick check around the bridle
trail - No Shrike - and then headed toward Rectorstown via Carr Lane (just
south
of the main entrance to the park) We observed a nice flock of Pipits at the
first cattle feeding area on the north side of Carr - approx 30 birds - but no
Horned Larks mixed in...we tallied one lone Killdeer a bit further along the
road. Bluebirds were putting in a good appearance w. many small groups of 4 - 8
noticed. As the sun was sinking low, we could not dawdle along Carr Ln - we
pressed on to Rectorstown, turning down Crenshaw Rd. around 5:30. We spotted
one Northern Harrier crossing the road just north of the Gazebo and pulled up
to
inspect those fields...almost immediately, we found 4 N. Harriers on the east
side of the road, and two more on the west side. We were met there by two
carloads of birders from the Falls Church area who were looking for the owls as
well. Gerry spotted a Male N. Harrier, giving us at 7 Harriers total. We all
drove back toward the Gazebo to wait for owls. Seeing none, Gerry and I went
back up the road (north) to scope out the fields on the east side of the road
as
well. We spotted two SE Owls on the west side of the road, flying south
toward the Gazebo. We then saw another SE Owl hunting over the east field. This
was
followed by one more SE Owl, flying south, again on the west side of the
road. The first owls showed up around 5:50. A great 1/2 hour of birding! If
you
go out there - wear your long undies! It's still cold... Rich Rieger
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