A surprise interaction with a Northern Shrike provided a number of portrait photos – the best to date.
The initial surprise of finding a Short-eared Owl on the hunt was eventually augmented by 2 more that provided a thrilling chance to follow their buoyant flights through the camera lens.
Although this image looks like it was taken a split second after the first owl photo, it was taken at another position several minutes later (note the different grass backgrounds).
This photograph of a Short-eared Owl hovering in advance of a strike is actually Paul’s favorite of the many photos he took Saturday afternoon.
During a rest stop, one of the owls provided a classic portrait as it perched on the edge of the expansive grassland habitat. It was exciting to have the opportunity to observe and photograph the 3 owls during an extended period, and it was rewarding to see the best results – the photos shared here.
After missing an opportunity to photograph an exceptionally beautiful Golden Eagle, a short distance away the chance to photograph a trusting Western Meadowlark eased the pain of the miss.
It’s interesting to see the muted winter plumage of this meadowlark, especially the emblematic dark bib on its breast, which has changed from black to worn gray. Meadowlarks are truly “treasures of the grasslands.”
|
During my last check for Bald Eagles, while there were still eagles in the area, I counted 13 Tuesday afternoon before sending off the last issue of The Birding Wire. But it was a robin-sized bird perched in a small tree along the roadside that received my full attention – an adult Northern Shrike. It permitted me to stop near the tree, but the cold-weather bird was perched where 3 or 4 or 5 branches criss-crossed to obstruct any chance of a clear photo of the bird. Hmm, perhaps if I tried “pishing” it might reposition into the open. So I pished and even tried tweeting low rapidly, and the shrike popped right into the open to land on the top of a small branch with clear blue afternoon sky behind it and the sun behind me – WooWoo! I took a couple initial photos, then waited for him to lower his tail for the best photo of the series.
Clouds with an intense wind put a hold on birding Wednesday and Thursday, but Friday’s forecast suggested it would be perfect for a SoDak raptor survey centered south of Pierre, South Dakota – and it was! The weather was great, but the raptors seemed to be sparse; nonetheless, the variety and total numbers indicated it was a fairly typical December survey. The Buteo hawks dominated the numbers, with Rough-legged Hawks numbering 7 and Red-tailed Hawks totaling 15. Northern Harriers numbered 6, and 1 Cooper’s Hawk showed near dusk; Ferruginous Hawks showed late too with 2 of the 3 perched south of Pierre just before sunset – an adult perched near an especially interesting first-year dark morph Ferrug. Eagles seemed poorly represented with just 4 adult Bald Eagles and a beautiful adult Golden Eagle along my route. Five falcons were present including 3 American Kestrels, a male Merlin, and a big female Prairie Falcon.
In case you weren’t counting, the total number of different species was 10, and the total for the day was 42! Too many of the locations that seem to always have a dynamic raptor or more were empty – perhaps because it’s early in the winter season with a lack of any snow, which tends to concentrate raptors as the winter progresses. The numbers of Red-tails, harriers, and kestrels suggested these were early season birds on hand, and the low numbers of Rough-legs and Golden Eagles indicated they are still on the way. January will show very different totals all around. After a couple zero degree nights Wednesday and Thursday in my neighborhood, it was mighty refreshing to enjoy a 57 degree afternoon Friday!
The most interesting observations proved to be related to the dark morph Harlan’s Red-tailed Hawks – 4 of them! The first one was in an area where I usually see Rough-legged Hawks, and it was a beauty of an adult. The Harlan’s race should really be returned to full species status according to many authorities, and I’m on their side – these are just different animals from the rest of the Red-tails found across the continent. They nest in the Northwest, primarily from Alaska to British Columbia and Alberta; most seem to be dark-morphs, but even the light morph Harlan’s are very different looking from other Red-tails. But back to my sightings of dark morph Harlan’s.
East of Pierre, within 12 miles of the capitol city, I found 3 more black hawks; and I’m quite sure the 2 positioned farther east are hawks that have returned to “winter territories” for a number of years, as verified by my documentary photos of them (one has white tail feathers bordered by dark brown, and the other has similar tail colors but is distinguished by it rufous-colored breast plumage). The dark morph Harlan’s positioned closest to Pierre appeared to be a first-year bird, a newbie, indicated by its uniformly dark-brown tail, although it is in an area where 2 black Harlan’s were present last year – amazing how that happens with these identifiable raptors.
Of course there were non-raptor birds on hand too, including too many Ring-necked Pheasants to count, and at the southern end of the survey area there were a few flocks of Western Meadowlarks, with 1 flock numbering more than 30. There was also a Loggerhead Shrike, a Hairy Woodpecker, and around Pierre there were many Canada Geese and a few Ring-billed Gulls.
Owl Action
You would think I’d be satiated, or even worn out after the full day of SoDak raptor action, but sunshine always presses me into looking for the next birds. Having seen a dark morph Rough-legged Hawk the previous morning in the fog several miles south of home, I wanted to check the area, which is a location where Rough-legs have gathered before. I also wanted to assess what birds were in the area after the big wind storm and Arctic temperatures Wednesday and Thursday. As it turned out, I was batting zero aside from 2 Horned Larks that flushed as I drove by, until on my way back to the office, I saw some medium-sized birds in a tree so stopped to verify they were grouse. Yes, 6 Sharp-tailed Grouse; but when I dropped my binoculars from my eyes I was surprised to see a Short-eared Owl in a low hunting flight near the grouse!
I watched as the grassland owl searched for the next small rodent to terrorize, hoping it would fly nearer to my position. Instead it flew north, then west, and out of sight behind a rise. As waited, I remembered that Short-eared Owls often can be seen in groups of 2 or 3 or more, and that fields from this location to a few miles south have been hunted by Short-ears previous years. As I turned back to my windshield view to start my car, boom, there was another owl on the other side of the car – and this Short-ear was closer and flying above the low grass where the afternoon sunshine provided fine photo light. Eventually, 3 Short-eared Owls would show, and I enjoyed the chance to follow each owl’s flight at various points of the next half-hour – and what fun that turned out to be!
I found it especially rewarding to follow individual owl’s fluid movements above the grasslands and marsh edges, sometimes flying broadside or even directly toward me, sometimes hovering as though following the movement of a vole or mouse, sometimes even dropping down into the golden grass in pursuit. Periodically an owl would perch on a post or on the ground, which provided some portrait opportunities too. Knowing the weather and chance of sunshine the next few days wasn’t great, with rain in the forecast for Sunday, I wanted to make the most of this opportunity; at the same time I hoped the owls would stick around.
Post-Rain Raptors
Indeed, there was a summer-like soaking rain Sunday, but just at prime photo time the thick clouds exited eastward for me to check back on the Short-eared Owls. With a level of excitement I checked the area and waited for at least one owl to appear, but my first observation period was empty. No problem, they may have repositioned along the grasslands that extended a few miles south, so I drove thataway, but the expanse of prairie grasses appeared empty of birds. I retraced my route, stopped a while where the owls were active 24 hours earlier, then decided to check the 4 grasslands in the area where I’ve seen Short-ears other years.
Of course, Rough-legged Hawks tend to hunt the same grasslands during this time of year, so Rough-legs could be part of the equation too. Indeed, a few miles to the southwest a Rough-leg was perched on a distant pole – good to see. A mile south I became even more alert as I was back in the area where I saw the jet black Rough-legged Hawk 2 days earlier. A mile farther south, there it was, perched on a tall wooden pole near a side road, but on the wrong side of the sunlight to get a good look at it. In response, I tried to ease past the hawk’s perch to get to the sunny side of the hill’s view, where I was able to get a good look at the dark morph male as it preened and ruffled.
At that point I thought it might fly, so raised my camera and sure ‘nuff, the black hawk flew upward a few wingbeats, then glided north, providing a couple quick documentary photos in the process. I followed its flight through binoculars and saw it flush a second Rough-leg that was perched on a sign along the road I had just passed by – testimony to how quickly things change and how it’s worthwhile to pass through promising habitats once more when time permits. With that in mind, I checked back on the owl grasslands one more time, but hawks ruled Sunday and owls remained invisible. Hopefully, some of the hawks and owls will persist in the area, or exiting birds will be replaced by others. It’s safe to say though, it’s that time of the year when birds become few and far between up north – but the birds encountered are very exciting birds indeed.
Feeder Birds
A few Dark-eyed Juncos continue to check for seeds below my feeding station – I scatter some seeds each time I refill the feeders, and the other birds scatter some seeds that the juncos prosper from too. There are still at least 2 Oregon juncos in the mix, which is a plus each day I see them. The core group of feeder visitors continue too: 2 male Hairy Woodpeckers, 4 Blue Jays, at least 2 White-breasted Nuthatches, and 10ish House Finches. It’s a nice mix that’s been pretty static, but I’m expecting some new birds from the north, northeast, and northwest to arrive any day.
I hope your week has been fulfilling and prosperous, with birds adding excitement, surprises, and a connection to nature and your surroundings. Enoy these days of December and give those binoculars and camera a workout whenever you can.
Article and Photos by Paul Konrad
Share your bird sightings and photographs at editorstbw2@gmail.com