Hi All, 

I set out today to look for the QA County short-eared owls.??There was some uneasiness about the trip, because the last owl foray- the Oxford snowy owl -? come up empty.? I sure hoped not to be skunked by these owls, too.? Well, I am very pleased to report that the only skunk today was ... um...... fragrantly gracing the roadsides (and there were a lot of those!).? 

We arrived at Pemberton Manor about 5:30, eagerly scanning for an owl.? We looked at three prospects - all were harriers, one very gray and two brown.? Since I had heard of three owls, but not three harriers, I figured I must just be wrong, and tried really hard to turn those harriers into owl.? Every time, however, it cold not be done - the white rump patch just kept the facts real.? They were a good show, though.? At one point, a brown harrier and the gray made a pass at each other, then the brown turned and flew off, with the gray closing fast.? The? gray got about a bird-length back, then stayed there. It looked like a chase, but the lead bird wasn't making evasive manuever, and the chase bird pulled back and followed, rather than catching up and harrassing.? If it was courtship, it seemed odd, too - not a lot of interaction, other than this chase.?How do they get together THAT way? ?Any one know what harriers do when courting?

After a few moments of observing the harrier chase, someone shouted "there it is" - and there it was, in the field RIGHT in front of us.?A short-eared owl. ?It made a pass or two close by, and took a long look directly at us, as if checking us out (thrill!), then proceeded to give a wondrful show for at least a half hour.? It seemed to prefer to sit in the field than to fly, and gave one long good look as it sat on the ground, right next to the Pemberton driveway.??? The other two?owl sdid not show up tonight.(we left about 7 PM)? 

Other notables for the day - two adult male kestrels between Rt. 301 and Pemberton.? Meadowlarks (two) and killdeer - displaying to each other.? tundra swans and?several clouds?of snow geese, and three geese that must have been dark (blue?) snow geese all by themselves on the lake.?also at Pemberton.? Tuckahoe had 8 American Coot?on it's lake- one found itself away from the flock and?caught up by "walking" on the water - wings flapping and feet splashing.? Also a nice bald eagle.? And a wonderful look at a overhead Coopers Hawk.

Gorgeous evening - and a lot of fun.? Thanks to all for reporting the owl and giving such good directions.?The show was so good that, as my friend said "you could sell tickets to this".? 

Joanne

Joanne Howl, DVM

West River, MD