Today. Was. Awesome!!!!!! I dropped the girls off at the pool in Blenheim and headed to Erieau. I was debating between stopping at the Lagoons or the Erieau Marsh, but I am sooooooo glad I went to the Marsh! I got to witness what looked like a Great Horned Owl (not 100% of the ID) get mobbed by lots of Red-winged Blackbirds and Killdeer! I heard all kinds of racket, looked and saw an owl being chased by a large flock! I instantly put my bins down and grabbed my camera to capture the action...not the sharpest pictures, but show the scene quite well.
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Just after I first heard the racket and saw the owl. He ducked down below the reeds for a bit.
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| When he took off...the racket continued and many more birds than pictured were chasing him... |
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| If you look closely, you can see a Red-winged Blackbird right on his tail! |
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| The owl, now perched, got dive-bombed constantly, until he took off. |
Just before the owl mobbing, this poor duck (Mallard female...I think), was being chased too! The bird has his legs out like he was grabbing at the duck!
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| More harrassment! |
The trees were dripping with Cedar Waxwings! This is a life bird for me...they are probably the most elegant looking bird I have laid eyes on.
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| Cedar Waxwing |
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| Three on one branch...there were TONNES! |
Here are a few other shots I got today that I liked...
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| Killdeer cruising over the marsh. |
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| Eastern Kingbird |
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| Great Blue Heron |
What an exciting day!
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Wow, you had quite the day! :) Exciting. What is your life bird count up to?
ReplyDeleteThanks :). My life bird count is at 86...87 if I can confirm the owl's ID. The only free owls I have seen are Great Gray and Snowy, and I know it isn't either of those :)
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