On Monday after work, I stopped at the Pheasant Branch prairie and found a Short-eared Owl hunting over the fields - the first time I've ever observed this species at the conservancy. Because the bird was zooming and gliding non-stop, I realized the only chance to digiscope it would be via video capture:
Last evening I met up with Dottie, Sylvia, Lisa and Jesse to see if the owl might return, but no such luck for us. It was so windy; perhaps the owl waited until later to come out to hunt. While we waited, I snapped a few photographs of the scenery. On our way back to the parking lot, we heard the peenting calls of American Woodcock.
All media © 2008 Mike McDowell