Yesterday at dusk I found a Short-eared Owl hunting over the marsh along
Aquasco Farm. I spotted the owl at about 5:30pm in the marshes in the
northern section of the farm, not far from Milltown Landing. I'm only
putting one on my eBird report, but I thought there could've been two - I
just never got them in the scope at once. At first the bird was no more than
50 yards from where I was standing which allowed for amazing views. It then
continued to move north to the widest part of the marsh where I enjoyed
watching it hunt for 20 minutes. Before the Short-eared Owl got up for the
night, there were many Harriers hunting in the same area. My count was 11,
which more than doubles the previous high in eBird for the county. It was a
pleasant way to end the day!

Location:     Patuxent River Park--Aquasco Farm
Observation date:     2/3/11
Number of species:     28
Canada Goose     126
American Black Duck     2
Mallard     14
dabbling duck sp.     50     Dropping into the marsh at dusk.
Double-crested Cormorant     2
cormorant sp.     1     The lead cormorant in the group of three. Appeared
appreciably larger but view was too brief to be sure of Great Cormorant.
Bald Eagle     2
Northern Harrier     11     Including 9 at once in the scope view!
Red-tailed Hawk (Eastern)     1
Ring-billed Gull     5
Herring Gull     3
SHORT-EARED OWL    1     Seen well from very close at first (~50 yards) and
then a little further way for an extended period of time as it hunted over
the marsh in the fading light. Distinctive facial disk, mostly pale
underwings except brownish black carpal patch, and equally dark markings on
the outer primaries. Poor but identifiable photographs.
Downy Woodpecker     2
Hairy Woodpecker     2
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted)     1
Pileated Woodpecker     1
crow sp.     10
Carolina Chickadee     2
White-breasted Nuthatch     1
Carolina Wren     2
Gray Catbird     1
Brown Thrasher     2     Giving their growl type call from some nearby
thorns at dusk.
European Starling     10
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle)     2
Eastern Towhee     3
Song Sparrow     4
White-throated Sparrow     25
Northern Cardinal     12
Red-winged Blackbird     550     Many males were singing from reeds and Wood
Duck? nest boxes at dusk.
Common Grackle     30
Brown-headed Cowbird     15

Rob Ostrowski
Crofton, MD