Monday, April 20, 2015

Owls of Camas NWR

This morning after doing my Sage grouse lek counts, I went on to Camas NWR to see what I could find.  I was well paid for my time.  I saw a few new birds for the season, but I also noticed a lot of Short-eared owls flying around, chasing off the Northern Harriers when they got too close to some marsh grass areas.
 
It kept landing on a headgate for water diversion and watched me very closely.

 
Then right by the road in the grass was a brown spot with big yellow eyes - a Short-eared owlet.

 
Not too far off I saw another one.
 
 
Then another one that was exposed to the diving harriers.

 
After an attack from the harriers, it flew about 20 yards into some thick bull rushes.

 
Across the road was another adult - I believe it was the male of the pair.

 
He eventually took off and chased the harriers away from the area.

 
On the way home I stopped to check out a Great-horned owl nest and found that the eggs had hatched and now a pair of adults have three hungry chicks to feed.

 
Just a few rewards of spending time in the wilds of Idaho and enjoying the wildness of it all.

6 comments:

Mary Howell Cromer said...

Well Bill, once again, you have taken some great images and shared a great story. I know this will get posted to your blog and if you leave comments on mine, it will never show up under my blog, since Google plus changed things. I will see it, but unless you comment the old way, it cannot be published. I too have shared Great Horned owlets this week. Hoping you are doing well~

Wilma said...

You are over-run with owls!

TexWisGirl said...

truly beautiful and fascinating.

eileeninmd said...

Wow, awesome collection of owl photos.. Great sightings... Happy weekend!

Grandma Yellow Hair said...

Bill I wish I could explain to you how your amazing photo's and writing effect me when I am lucky enough to drop by your incredible site.
How you can capture the wild like you do and share it with us is unreal.
These owl photo's are beautiful and I can only imagine how you must feel when out and about in the wilds of Idaho.
You lead such an interesting full life that I find myself envious of letting my just slip by without ever experiencing anything near this beauty.
I must come by more than I do.
Thank you so much for your thoughtful comment about my daughter's wedding. It was just pure joy knowing that she is now married to a Christian man who adores her. Hard to find that combination. My prayers were answered many times over.
We had a some bad weather here last night and trees down all over this property. Will be weeks before the mess will be cleaned up but the houses are all in tack. So I still have a roof over my head.
Take care and keep enjoying your delightful days in the wild.
Love
Maggie

Jann said...

Wonderful owl shots, Bill! There are owls in Florida, but I haven't seen one yet in the 3 years I've been here. Then again, I haven't gone looking in "owl-ish" places either! Anyhow, loved your post; thanks for sharing.