Great Day of Birding

Today was a great day for those of us who appreciate and get a thrill out of watching birds!After cleaning and refilling the backyard bird feeders, all kinds of birds came to eat: Northern Cardinals, Blue Jays, House Finches, Mourning Doves, House Sparrows, American Goldfinches, Downy Woodpecker, Red-breasted Nuthatches, Dark-eyed Juncos, Black-capped Chickadees and Pine Siskins. A Cooper's Hawk made a couple of passes through the backyard scattering everything for a while. There were a number of flocks of Canada Geese fly-overs and a small flock of Cedar Waxwings perched in my neighbor's trees.

Later on Becky and I went to look for the Great Gray Owl reported near Goose Pond. On our way out we found Snow Buntings, Lapland Longspurs and Horned Larks. There were also a few American Kestrels and a Red-tailed Hawk.The highlight of the afternoon was watching the Great Gray Owl. Well, it actually didn't do all that much except just perch on a post, but it was still cool. I did hear from someone else later in the evening it was observed hunting and ate two small mammals. At least the gray hunter so far from home is finding something to keep it alive.

Here are two pictures of the Great Gray Owl near Goose Pond:

http://www.birddigiscoping.com/birdGGOWcol.html

http://www.birddigiscoping.com/birdGGOWcol2.html

Northern Hawk Owl

Becky and I visited Harrington Beach State Park to see/photograph the Northern Hawk Owl that has been a resident for a while. We figured with sightings of Great Gray Owls in southern Wisconsin no other birders would be at the park - we were right! This provided an opportunity to photograph the owl with minimal impact to its welfare:

http://www.birddigiscoping.com/birdHNHOW00.html

http://www.birddigiscoping.com/birdHNHOW01.html

http://www.birddigiscoping.com/birdHNHOW02.html

http://www.birddigiscoping.com/birdHNHOW03.html

http://www.birddigiscoping.com/birdHNHOW04.html

Northern Hawk Owl image © 2005 Michael Allen McDowell