Short-eared Owl trip summary Feb 15

[rrip...@charter.net]

Taking others out on a trip and expecting the same experience that I others have reported can sometimes be like a what surfers refer to as "You should have been here yesterday". But then, surfers will also point out "Pay attention to the tides". 

 

There were many interested participants in the "Short-eared Owl" field trip, sponsored by Klamath Basin Audubon. There were about 14 on the trip: Wes, Anne, Karl, Holly, Alan, Nancy, Elizabeth, Jim C., Gary V., Joy, and husband and two young children, Jim H, and Anond who rode with me, Kevin Spencer. There were others interested but the weather forecast and road conditions changed their plans. I have entered a pin below, where all could later go, in the next week or so, and probably still get in on this winter concentration. 

 

The group eventually began the trip at the entrance to the Lower Klamath NWR, on the California side of Stateline Road. Holly and Alan reported seeing three SANDHILL CRANES flying by. I mentioned that it was the start of their migration into the Klamath Basin, but that they were in for a real surprise with the snow covering their winter staging area. Seeing the snow depths made me think of all the wildlife already impacted. Ring-necked Pheasants, hundreds of the them, were along Stateline Road, as it was the only stretch of bare earth around. Some were getting struck by vehicles. That was attracting ravens, coyotes, and even eagles. Some of them were getting struck by vehicles. Raptors and owls were along the road, waiting for small mammals to expose themselves, and they in turn were at risk for vehicle stikes. I saw at least one dead Barn Owl, and one injured Red-tailed Hawk. There were hundreds of Horned Larks along the road margin. They scattered with each passing vehicle. It has been nearly two weeks since the big snow storms came through. The snow depth and coverage is still significant. The refuge has dispersed some piles of grain along the tour route. It was also pointed out that some snow plowed up in circles on the Oregon side were both done to draw or attract birds away from the highway, and lower risk of getting hit. 

 

At the restrooms, the trip group participants were able to see one Short-eared Owl off  sitting on a short stalk above the snow. Great views through a scope, and one I thought would be the start of possibly seeing many. Before leaving that parking area and heading out, the group had close overhead views of two TUNDRA SWANS as they flew overhead. I'll say that was impressive! Others could be heard in the distance. While out on the "Long Tour  Route", taking a left at the A Intersection, there was only one other seen. It was roosting on the bank of a canal, in a clump of thick grass, and quite a ways away to get a truly impressive view. On the tour route other birds seen were: NORTHERN HARRIER, RED-TAILED HAWK, numerous BALD EAGLEs, (with a pair at the known nest in the large willow row along the exit section of the tour route, and one adult actually on the nest and appearing to be incubating). Many Coyotes were seen, at least a dozen, scampering across the pure white landscape.  Before getting to Intersection C, there was a PRAIRIE FALCON out o a post. South of Intersection F there were three MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRDS, which stood out on the white background. That reminds me of Karl's comment on the walkie-talkie, "We are passing a bare tree loaded  with PHEASANTS, and they look like Christmas ornaments"! It did remind me of that. Anand, riding with me, mentioned seeing a male Yellow-headed Blackbird in a tree with a mixed flock of other blackbirds. All along the way there were countless flocks of HORNED LARKS and RING-NECKED PHEASANTS lingering around the grain that was dropped intermittently in stretched piles along the tour route. So, that tactic seemed to be working to some extent. Mixed in with one small Horned Lark group at a grain pile near Intersection A was a female LAPLAND LONGSPUR. Getting the group to see that bird would be difficult. At the exit of the tour route, participants said goodbye and most left. While we did see two, I was left thinking about that we should have been their earlier in the week, "when the surf was up", or when I had seen about 40 along the route. I did mention to Wes, Holly, and Alan, that I would be joining them near the restrooms at the entrance to the Lower Klamath NWR, and try to see if any were active then. The sun was setting, and dusk would soon follow. After all, the best time for Short-eared Owls was upon us, and we did already see one at that location. Being the last to leave, wouldn't you know it, a sub-adult GOLDEN EAGLE flew by. Well, I won't say an expression for that. While on the way to the entrance to the tour route, about a half-mile away I began to see flying SHORT-EARED OWLs. Some were on the ground that I hadn't seen before on a previous pass. I suppose the snow had settled, and maybe the owls were better at hiding themselves during their daytime roost. Arriving at the restrooms, Alan said that he and Holly had counted about 10. I agreed. While standing in the parking area of the restrooms, I scanned and counted about 12 in a 270 degree view. In the checklist below there is a number like 18. That's conservative as I tried to account for ones we had already seen, or overlapping flybys. The point though is that there was many. The group could just have gone there, and sat in well, heated beach chairs and instead of watching whales go by, because that's the tactic for watching whales. You just sit in one spot. We could have just waited. I should have paid attention to the tide. But in this case, to sunset. Because once the sun goes down, the owls were out and flying. Maybe, I need to have a different saying. "You have to think like an owl". Thanks to all for the fun trip. It was great meeting you all. Hopefully you visit the Lower Klamath NWR at other times of the year.

Kevin Spencer

 

Here's a GOOGLE PIN for the location where the owls will be seen the best between sunset and dusk:Paste this latitude longitude into your google map search. The pin is for the parking area/restrooms at the Entrance to the Lower Klamath NWR, (CA).

 

41.995534786721734, -121.71175218976302

 

Lower Klamath NWR--Auto Tour Route, Siskiyou, California, US

 Feb 15, 2025 6:20 PM - 7:40 PM

Protocol: Traveling 9.5 mile(s)

Checklist Comments: Field trip looking for Short-eared Owls.

29 species (+3 other taxa)

 

 Greater White-fronted Goose 1

Canada Goose 9

Tundra Swan 17

 American Wigeon 30

 Mallard 15

Northern Pintail 2

Bufflehead 8

Ruddy Duck 65

duck sp. 110

Ring-necked Pheasant 160 Conservative count; hanging out along road shoulders due to deep snow

American Coot 75

Sandhill Crane 3 (seen and reported by Alan and Holly)

Ring-billed Gull 3

Great Blue Heron 1

Golden Eagle 1 Sub-adult (seen by KS at tour route exit after all had departed)

Northern Harrier 26

Bald Eagle 9

Red-tailed Hawk 16

Rough-legged Hawk 5

Short-eared Owl 18 Two seen on tour route; later after sundown, counted 9 along Stateline Road near refuge entrance, and 12 counted in 360 scan at Restroom parking area, by WS, KS, Holly and Alan). Some recounts considered, so count conservative. 

American Kestrel 2

Prairie Falcon 1

falcon sp. 1 Possibly Merlin, but not certain; reported by Gary dark backed

Common Raven 55

Horned Lark 550 Conservative; several 100+ flocks, and numerous small flocks along Stateline Road and within refuge

Mountain Bluebird 3, moving along canal S of Intersection F

Lapland Longspur 1 Female seen in small group of HOLAs at grain piles near Intersection A

Yellow-headed Blackbird 1 At least one male in mixed Blackbird flock S of Intersection F (Seen by Anoud)

Western Meadowlark 1

Red-winged Blackbird 20

Brewer's Blackbird 15

blackbird sp. 80

[Shannonrio]

Thank you

Sent from the all new AOL app for iOS

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