Closing In
The anticipation as we close in on the nesting season, this is the only cam for this ‘trail’ since site 1′s cam is out of commission. Based on the history nesting here is about a month away. Hopefully, since the female has been spending more time in the box she has used as a nest in the last 2 nesting seasons, she will again choose this box for a nest.
Last Years Pair
2/25/12 Update:
From the owner
In the overcast light of late afternoon(2/24), I could confirm that it was “white face” in the ‘circle box’. While I believe it was the “pale gray” owl in the slot box, the added shadow of the overhanging roof made that owl look darker than usual. Will try to confirm later today, I missed them this morning.
Reports from here continue to be excellent as we close on on prime nesting season (mid march to mid april) for screech owls in Massachusetts.
From the owner
We have seen the “pale gray” owl in the slot box nearly every day this month. Recently I believe that I’ve seen the “white face” owl a few times, but the two owls are very hard to tell apart in the dim light of dawn/dusk. This past week we’ve heard an owl calling, briefly, on a couple of occasions. This morning, however, I could confirm that the “white face” owl is back and it was roosting in the round hole box! I haven’t seen both owls at once, but I believe that we have have a mated pair in our yard. I don’t have a recent photo of the owl I believe is “white face”, but I’ve attached one of the “pale gray” owl taken last Saturday.
Thank you very much for the update!
Gruesome Mystery
So I was checking out a place I hadn’t been to for years, trying to find some long-eared owls, I found lots of scattered pellets here and there, but no concentration of them that would indicate a favorite roost. Then at first glance I thought I found a pair of owl roosting 10-15 feet up in a group of red cedars near a salt marsh. On second glance I thought it was some black trash bag, (I was on the shady side), then ok it has feathers but its not alive, I was looking at its back and it was dark, I was thinking dead owl? dead harrier? made my way around to the front and the front was light, sort of streaked, juv. cooper’s hawk?
Then I saw the feet not raptors talons, mmmm, I don’t think I could see the head. After some ID work I think I have the ID down. But I would like to see some other ID if others come to a independent conclusion. It may always be a mystery how and why it got there in the first place. And struck out on the owl front.
Warning a bit graphic, so I put them in a small gallery format, just click if you want to see larger versions.
Switching it up
For the first time that I know of at this site the Male spent some time in the in the ‘nest’ box. Does this mean anything???? I guess time will tell. But its been fun watching them follow/chase each other around after fly out. Although they don’t stay still long so trying to a picture can be frustrating.
Just a quick documenting pic. A few seconds before he flew.
Should be Getting Close
If the last 2 years (feb 19 and feb 20 first eggs) are any indication there should be the first egg laid soon, given the mild winter there could already be one. This couple clock is about 1 month ahead of most screech owls in massachusetts for nesting. But as I mentioned earlier the box cam was damaged beyond repair with a tropical storm last august (2011) and it hasn’t been replaced yet, hopefully by next season. Anyway the male has been in the nest box recently? does this mean the female is down below or things just haven’t got started yet. I am unwilling to open the box up to check for fear of disturbing them. The time line for incubation to fledging is fairly well established so if things progress smoothly things can be back calculated from when owlets fledge with in a couple days of egg laying. Which is good enough for me.
Copulating Couple
First, sorry no terrific photos (no photos at all) of the event.
The male was seen in the pole box in the late afternoon. He remains very elusive except when staying in this box, and even then he just seems skittish. The female was in the (previously nest) SQR type box (w/cam) a good opportunity to watch the couple at fly out. The female flew out first called a few times, and then was joined by them male. I got to observe a brief copulation and then they flew off.
The female from the inside the box, sitting in the hole before flyout.
The female from outside the box.
The male in the Pole box.
He Takes a Turn
Today the male took a turn in the box that the female usually stays,(nesting as well). In fact, this is the first time that I know of that he was in this box by himself. A little dusting of snow completes the scene.
Leukistic Hawk Territory?
Back in april 2011 there was a ‘cool red tailed hawk’ flying about, I saw every so often during the summer and fall, but recently or maybe I have just noticed more, it has been defending the area around site 2. I saw it on January 1 2012 chase another red tailed hawk at full speed. Yesterday another normal looking red tailed was soaring fairly low and a few crows started to give chase and the white red tailed came in behind the pack of crows, and seemed to chase the crows away? perhaps helping out a mate? then landed on top of a row of pines about ~100 yards away. Since there aren’t any owls at this site using the boxes maybe this hawk can keep things interesting.
Three Owl Hour
After work, I headed to the much reported Stackyard Rd. Rowley, an area that for the last few weeks have had Short Eared Owls seen fairly regularly, I stopped by a couple time before with no luck, today there was one owl working the marsh to the north. It never got too close, started out 1/4 mile away and maybe got within 200 yards, decent looks through binoculars, but only a poor ID type photo especially with the setting sun. I had never seen a SEO before, I am not much of a list keeper, but I know which owls kinds I have and haven’t seen. (picture taken ~ 4:30 pm)
yes I know, can you even seen the owl?
After which I headed to Site 3 to get some more practice with night photos, The female was in the SQR nest box. This was the first time I had seen her in this box this owl season, and only the 2nd-3rd time she has spent the day in the box this season. She flew out pretty late (5:08 pm) as I was taking pictures I heard a Great Horned Owl to the north west. I heard it pretty clearly so it was fairly close, but not so close that I thought I could find it. The last screech owl picture was from 5:20 pm. So two types of owls seen and one heard, good way to start the weekend!
pushing the limits of owl stillness on this last one, 4 second exposure!
Keep Documenting
Thanks to the owner of Site 8 I get these great composites now and then to document sightings.
Last recorded visit was 12/31 … until today(1-16-2012) … we probably have a different individual. it shows more white and has a pale grey tone; instead of the darker brown tones [with more contrast to white] of previous regular visitor. I took some snaps through telescope, and will pass them along if they’re any good.Here’s the latest composite of two returning owls.
My Notes:
Looks like the Female of last year on the right, I am thinking the male of last year on the left?
let me know if you are thinking differently.
So Close but…
So far, I have heard screech owls about 1/2 dozen different time at site 2 since since October 2011. But not one has shown up in either of the 2 boxes… The last, was two nights ago 1-10-12, at 11:00 pm and through closed windows, so it was close. So ‘they’ should know about the boxes, but that doesn’t mean ‘they’ will use them.
Not too Concerned
I have always been curious about disturbances, and how the screech owl handles them. I have a some fluid thoughts along the line of the amount of comfort the owl has with a particular hollow vs. the severity of disturbance. The first box (normal) and screech owl I ever had (before this trail) was back in 2000, I was too excited with get an owl. I think I scared it away with too many flash photos in the 2-3 days it first appeared. I think I never let it get comfortable in that hollow it left and never re-appeared (and the following year it was taken over by squirrels).
This site, they have used these boxes for the last couple of years, so clearly they are comfortable. This was the first time I know of that a disturbance actually flushed the male owl out of his box. I was curious if and when he would return. I didn’t have to wait long, as he was back today. Must not have been too much of a concern for the owl.
Red Recently
If this is the owl(s) that was seen in the mid summer, then the other of the pair is a gray phase. It is not known which is female or male. Anyway it seem the red phase of the pair has been the one to be most persistent this season in the box.
iso 3200
