Barred Owl & Others

I got some more pictures of the local Barred Owl, sometimes its just to easy not to take a picture of this bird. I also took a great walk on Crane Beach, I love this place, lots of memories since it was my beach growing up.

                                                              Dunes trail at Crane Beach

Horned Lark 

More Snowys

Found 2 Snowy's in the Reserve, and the new "resident" bird in front of the house. Another BIG Snowy year for Plum Island.

Snowy's

Davey called with a Snowy sitting in front of the house. Looks like duck is on the menu !

Long-eared Owl

I flushed a Long-eared Owl while stomping around in the woods this week. I did not even see the owl, which had to of either been directly on the ground or sitting about a foot off the ground in the brush. I always seem to find this species of owl ranging from about 2 feet - 5 feet off the ground, never higher. I did not attempt to follow the owl further once I flushed it, but always cool to see.

Owls

Every time I drive into the reserve this Barred Owl is literally sitting in the road so I pretty much have to take a picture of it. Also Snowy Owls have once again returned to Plum Island. Interestingly enough for the first time that we know of 2 Snowy Owls actually stayed at Logan airport and the Boston harbor islands this year. However this bird is a new arrival. The poor quality of the Snowy picture is due to rain and only taking one quick documentation shot.

                                                                     Horned Lark

Saw-whet Owl banding

It has been a great banding season so far. This week we saw the first large movement of birds. Warm incliment weather and mainly south winds have offset the migration by a few weeks. Thursday we caught & banded 25 Saw-whets, and one red phase Eastern Screech. Mainly hatch year birds, and mostly female.

Summer Tanager & Great Horned Owl

Well the storm brought a beautiful female Summer Tanager to the reserve ! I love storm birds ! I also found a Great Horned Owl in West Newbury today, crows alerted me to the birds presence.