2017 04-09 Yolo County
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I took off for a solo photo trip to one of our owl hot spots in Yolo County. (Solo in Yolo?) On the scene I immediately found that the roadside dirt with owl burrows had been recently plowed by adjacent farmers. What idiots… No regard whatsoever for the unique qualities of the roadside and the burrows… No need to plow so close to the pavement as their tree crops are set back quite a ways. I expected the worst.
To my surprise, the resilient little owls were still there, perhaps in fewer numbers than last time? In one or two spots they appear to have dug through the disturbed topsoil and re-opened their holes. They also appeared to be a little more nervous and wary of passing vehicles and also my presence even though I kept a respectful distance.
Among the burrowing owls I photographed there was a pair which I located under some dry brush near the far corner on the right side. The pair had dug out a little hole under the brush and were up and sitting together at the entrance, as they do. After a few shots the pair took flight back down the road behind me. I saw that they were now sitting at the entrance to a second burrow. I did not know, before seeing this, that these crafty little owls had more than one burrow.
Another pair was located around the bend and on the left side of the street, across from the owl warning sign. We’d not seen owls on the other side of the road before. In all there were 3 pairs photographed today. It was a sunny day with a moderate breeze.
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Read MoreI took off for a solo photo trip to one of our owl hot spots in Yolo County. (Solo in Yolo?) On the scene I immediately found that the roadside dirt with owl burrows had been recently plowed by adjacent farmers. What idiots… No regard whatsoever for the unique qualities of the roadside and the burrows… No need to plow so close to the pavement as their tree crops are set back quite a ways. I expected the worst.
To my surprise, the resilient little owls were still there, perhaps in fewer numbers than last time? In one or two spots they appear to have dug through the disturbed topsoil and re-opened their holes. They also appeared to be a little more nervous and wary of passing vehicles and also my presence even though I kept a respectful distance.
Among the burrowing owls I photographed there was a pair which I located under some dry brush near the far corner on the right side. The pair had dug out a little hole under the brush and were up and sitting together at the entrance, as they do. After a few shots the pair took flight back down the road behind me. I saw that they were now sitting at the entrance to a second burrow. I did not know, before seeing this, that these crafty little owls had more than one burrow.
Another pair was located around the bend and on the left side of the street, across from the owl warning sign. We’d not seen owls on the other side of the road before. In all there were 3 pairs photographed today. It was a sunny day with a moderate breeze.
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