Greetings,
Joan Boudreau, Bob Abrams and I were in northern Fauquier County today
looking for the Short-eareds that had been reported previously. This spot in
on Route 710, a few miles north of Marshall, and just north of Rectortown.
This isn't much more than ten minutes north from the I-66/US 17 South exit
near Marshall.
We arrived around five PM or so, and were treated to a fine Northern Harrier
display. As many as seven or eight harriers, with at least five males. It's
a rare treat for me to see three 'Ghost Riders' in my binoculars at once,
which happened a few times today. We watched the Harriers course the fields
before they all converged on one spot on the east side of 710 as the daylight
grew thinner. Eventually five or six were easily seen standing in the short
grass.
As the Harriers got settled into their roost, the Short-eareds appeared. All
told three were seen and heard calling repeatedly. Most of the activity was
between about five-thirty and five-forty-five. At one point a Short-eared
made a decidedly close pass by us, offering killer looks.
Other raptors in the area were a Red-Shouldered Hawk, four Red-tailed Hawks,
and a Kestrel. Twelve or more Cardinals were perched atop a tall tree as the
sun was setting, soaking up the last few moments of heat before dusk. A
couple White-crowned Sparrows and Red Foxes round out the interesting.
Cheers...
Todd
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Todd M. Day
Jeffersonton, VA
Culpeper County
BlkVulture@xxxxxxx
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