After watching two Great Horned Owls earlier in the evening, I caught up Flaco, the released Eurasian Eagle-Owl on Monday night. He was hunting rodents and perched twice in a tree, but also on the ground, a log and a rock. He was more patient then I was, as I gave up before he caught anything.
Flaco was back to a normal routine on Sunday evening. He hooted before fly out, then went to three trees around the construction site and then spent 90 minutes in the construction site. He often was on the ground and spent a great deal of time on a small rock in what will be the channel for the restored stream. Later in the evening he flew to trees to the SE of the construction site.
Flaco is moving around the park like he did the first two weeks after his release. Slowly moving around but not too far each night. I was able to watch him for about 30 minutes on Friday evening. While I’ve been able to find him at night, I haven’t been able to figure out his new roosting location(s). It’s going to be a challenge to keep up with him as the trees leaf out.
Many birds use gular fluttering. Today, our established Great Horned Owl, and a newly arrived owl both used gular fluttering to cool off on an exceptually warm April day. The video and photographs are of the new arrival.
I ended up having great timing to see Flaco this Thursday evening. Just as I arrived, I was able to see him fly in from the north, had him fly over me a few times, and then had him hooting for a few minutes in the same tree he used the night before.
But then there was no sign of him. We certainly were spoiled watching him up in the northern end of the park.
Tonight was a lucky evening. Flaco wasn’t in his normal roost and hadn’t been spotted during the day. We looked in his normal spots up north with any success after dusk.
One of the regular owl watchers, on her way home found Flaco hooting in the middle of the park. It wasn’t an expected location. She had gone on her bike, so I walked quickly to catch up and see him. But by the time I got there he was gone.
Luckily, after walking around for 45 minutes, I was able to hear him hooting and take some pictures of him. With the warm weather and the trees leafing out, I suspect he’ll be moving around the park and harder to find. We were lucky to have him perching in the same tree for weeks.
