Thursday, March 4, 2010

Banner Lakes Wildlife Area, Adams County

March 3, 2010

Richard Stevens:

I tried to cover Banner Lakes Wildlife Area as completely as possible today. Mileage covered about 7 miles, birding hours 4.

Eight Long-eared Owls were found in three groups. Check windbreak west of Pond # 7 for two of them. Two Great Horned Owls (one on a nest) also found. The highlight however was a Short-eared Owl that flew off the ground in a lesser visited windbreak. It circled me 360 degrees before heading away. I got great looks from 12 feet!

Heading north, the windbreak at the north end of Pond # 8 becomes mostly Russian Olive trees. The trees were full of fruit and hundreds of Robins were from Pond # 8 to Pond # 11! I conservatively counted 462 American Robins!

Other birds counted included 2 Ferruginous Hawks, 2 Red-tailed Hawks, 2 Northern Harriers, 3 Blue Jays, dozens of Dark-eyed Juncos, 1 Townsend's Solitaire, House Finches and 2 Pine Siskins.

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