Saturday March 30, 2013

Owl Pellet

Pellet with Lens Cap

If you read my Big Year blog, you would have read that I stated on many occasions that one never knows what one will find when birding.  And so it happened again today.

I went over to Nonnewaug High School to see what might be there.  Nonnewaug has become one of my favorite birding places due to its sports fields, the River that runs behind the school, the many trees, the open field on the other side of the foot bridge, and the garden that is there.

Unknown Fruit

NHS Now (wait until summer)

Species Seen:  Turkey Vulture, Red-Tailed Hawk, Blue Jay, American Crow (2), Eastern Bluebird (2 - m/f), American Robin (12), Cardinal (2 - m/f), and Song Sparrow (2).

Data:  12:55-2:16pm; 48F; mostly sunny; breezy

Barred Owl

But my day was not over!  When I got home, I started to watch "The Big Year", for the who-knows-the-nth-time, and looked up out the window to see a large bird fly by.  At first I thought it was a hawk trying to make a meal out of a bird at the feeder.  I went to the window to scan for the bird but saw nothing so I sat back down and continued to watch the movie.

Barred Owl

But while watching the movie, I continued to hear the birds give out warning calls which made me think the hawk was still around.  So again I scanned the trees and this time I saw the bird - a Barred Owl!  Second time I have seen one (maybe same one) in my yard within the last 6 months!

To see more pictures of the owl, click on this link:
 
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.559711157393459.1073741826.100000637397869&type=1&l=b88c5e2895

Female Bluebird

Male Bluebird

In addition to the owl, I also saw a male and female bluebird going in and out and back and forth between two bird houses I have here.

Data:  4:00 pm; 52F; mostly sunny; slight breeze