[Tweeters] SEOW at Discovery Park

[Stacey T via Tweeters]

Hi Tweets,

On Wednesday I took my usual walk in Discovery Park here in Seattle. Around 10 AM, I was in the South Meadow near the bluffs watching a Cooper’s hawk flying above the trees, and out of the corner of my eye I saw movement in the field just south of me. A medium sized owl took off from the tall grasses and flew in a large, low arc toward the bluffs where I was standing. It passed about 20 feet from me in the air, then continued on to the north and disappeared beyond the trees around Bird Alley. I got a good, long look at the size, shape, and plumage, and it was unmistakably a short-eared owl, possibly a male given the coloration. It was the first one I’ve seen in Discovery, although I know they have been reported here previously. 

Yesterday evening I was back in the South Meadow, and although I didn’t see it, I thought I heard a SEOW calling from the edge of the meadow, not far from where I saw the one on the previous day. No way to know if it was the same individual, but it has been the highlight of my week.

Stacey
Magnolia, Seattle
(tko107130 at gmail)