Northern Snowbird vs. Southern Beach Bum Owls!

Year 12,

Molly and I just completed 3 days of driving across America … south to north. During my last day in the Fort Myers area I revisited the Pelican Ballfields in Cape Coral. Although for this northern boy the winter temperatures seemed warm early in the morning (45F and sun), I suspected the local Burrowing Owls might think that a calm, sunny morning after two days of rain and mid 40’s were worth catching the sun’s rays like their northern cousins. Upon arriving home, I visiting with the northern cousins of the Beach Bums!

I was correct in that assumption, the “beach bum” owls were out getting warm near their burrow’s entrances.

“Beach Bum” Burrowing Owls of Cape Coral!

Northern Owls love to sit in the sun on sunny calm windless mornings. Look for the owls on the northern side of forest roads catching the rays from the sun in the southern sky. Anyhow, upon arriving home yesterday afternoon a bit before 3 pm, after taking 1/2 hour to unpack and stow away warm weather gear from the car, I was off to enjoy our local owl irruption. I did not need to travel far, and found two Great Grays hunting.

Great Gray Owls … the northern beach bum’s cousins!

Owl #1

Owl #2

I was actually home from my birding excursion within two hours of when I first got home from Florida. It was time for a leisurely glass of wine!

Wisconsin Public Radio, Snowy Owls and Rich!

Year 12

I was interviewed this morning about Snowy Owls in Superior by Wisconsin Public Radio’s Robin Washington. The 15 minute segment will be featured Thursday morning on WPR’s Morning Edition, the Northland Segment. I also briefly spoke about the Great Gray and Boreal Owl Irruption in northern Minnesota. It was a fun conversation and needless to say I get excited about owls.

Down on the Farm Birding: Cattle Egrets and Limpkins

Year 12

I went birding yesterday in farm country west of Fort Myers. I found two farm fields side by side which yielded dramatically different bird species. The difference between the two fields was habitat. The first field was quite wet, bordering on wetlands qualities, which encourage Limpkins to forage in search of Apple Snails. The next field over was much dryer and had both Long Horned Cattle and Cattle Egrets. While the cattle ate the field’s grasses, the Cattle Egrets stayed close to their larger bovine friends. The cattle scared up tasty morsels for the egrets … insects and other food upon taking steps to new locations.

Cattle Egrets and their Partners in Foraging Crime!

Limpkins Looking for Apple Snails

As I got ready to leave the backroads, I drove along a drainage ditch which I assume is full of water most of the year. In this sequence of images in addition to all the Woodstorks, you will be able to spot Great Egrets, Snowy Egrets and Great Blue Herons. This was obviously where breakfast was being served!