I had to pick up my daughter at the Ithaca Airport last night, so I went early (5:30) to see the Short-eared Owls. From Snyder Road near the western corner of the solar farm, I watched one in flight for several minutes. The snow was flying too, and when the light dimmed, I walked SE along the road to the point where it turns east and leaves the airport fence. Watchers there had seen several owls. I briefly caught sight of another one silhouetted against the lighted buildings across the distant runway. Eventually I turned and retraced my steps. At about 6:25 I was again walking past the solar farm. It was completely dark, but I could hear the owls barking and screaming just over the fence. At 6:30 my daughter’s plane came in from the SE, drowning out the owls and telling me it was time to leave. Lots of fun! If you go, I suggest 5:15 or even earlier.
-Geo -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --