Whoops

BirdingPI.com policy is to avoid situations disruptive to bird activity, e.g., minimize time near nesting sites. But even in well-traveled areas in the ‘off season,’ stuff happens. Take this past holiday Monday at the outer beach near Stull Interpretive Center for a quick look at migratory waterfowl activity over Lake Erie.

Crossing the narrow strip of grassy dunes, up from the grass startled an amazing Short-eared Owl (a BirdingPI.com ‘first ever!’):

Which was immediately caught up in a crazy wind gust:

Resulting in an unplanned tree/owl excursion. Whoops. 🙁

The good news, it seemed unhurt, flying off into the nearby woods:

Shot above, the owl is in upper right corner (blurry); in shot below, owl is just above center:

With the conditions + total surprise, lucky to get any shots of this encounter. (Rule 3 of bird photography: always have a camera at the ready.) Following shot was the only one with a visible face – note the distinctive black-rimmed, golden-coloured eye:

& visible talons in this shot:

Coming up soon, looks like beach cleanup!