Sunday Long-eared Owl
Sunday had a Long-eared Owl in “The Oven” (a cove on the Lake in Central Park).
The Long-eared Owl was in a deciduous tree in the open which is unusual for the species.
Category: Owls
Long-eared Owl in a Snow Storm
A Long-eared Owl ended up being found in a very unlikely place in Central Park on Saturday, during a snow storm. The bird was in a small tree at the edge of the Reservoir. A kind Central Park birder, who’s name is unfortunately just on the tip of my tongue, walked 10 blocks in the storm to show me the bird! Thank you.
This season has had a number of Long-eared Owls, who only seem to be staying for a day or two. Let’s hope one or two of them end up staying a little while longer this winter.
More Red-phase Eastern Screech-Owl Photographs
The park’s new Red-phased Eastern Screech-Owl has been using the same cavity for a few days. It’s been hard to track after fly out. Trying to figure out where it’s going after fly out is almost impossible.
Red-phase Eastern Screech-Owl Reappears
The Red Eastern Screech-Owl seen a few weeks ago reappeared today. I only got to see it for a few minutes at fly out. Welcome back.
Let it snow, Let it snow, Let it snow
There have been two Snowy Owls hanging around one of the barrier islands on the south shore of Long Island for the past week. I’ve been having bad luck finding life birds this fall. But today, I found this species within five minutes of parking my car!
(There have been reports of them being harassed by birders and photographers this week, so be careful if you see them. A Park Ranger told me that today, a photographer chased one of the owls down the beach. The owls are down here looking for food because food ran out further north. They’re in a stressful period of there lives. If they fly off, you’ve gotten too close. Please don’t chase after them. We’ve got to do our best to welcome and protect these birds.)
The bird I saw was most likely a young male.
2008-2009 Owl Season Has Begun
Thanks to Stella Hamilton, who with the help of some Bluejays found the bird, and Lincoln Karim who sent me a text message, I got to see my first Eastern-screech Owl of the Fall today. (It was in a very busy place, so forgive me if I keep its location private.)
The owl, a red morph, may be the owl that was released by a rehabber a few weeks ago. While I was observing it, some of its neighbors were not too welcoming, including a Black-capped Chickadee, a Gray Squirrel and a Tufted Titmouse.
