2020 08-02 Tracy & North Laguna
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After an extensive search for very recent (past 2 weeks) sightings of burrowing owls, we made the long trek to Tracy, CA In a vacant lot full of dry weeds and copious ground squirrels we located and photographed a single owl “guarding” its hole. Its eyes were transfixed on me and it did not move until, later in the session, it finally dove back beneath the sod. A pair of burly ground squirrels was also photographed nearby.
Less than a mile away we scoped another vacant lot. It was near a mini-mall shopping area parking lot and there were no ground squirrel holes or owls to be seen. A passerby with nice camera told us the owls were down now…mid-day heat bothers them, etc.
Near the southern border of Sacramento, a bit north of Elk Grove, we scoped out another recent report of “eight burrowing owls” along the fence boundary of the North Cosumnes River Community College soccer fields. This area was planted and lined with dark wood chips. It did not resemble any burrowing owl habitat I’d ever seen. None were found.
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Read MoreAfter an extensive search for very recent (past 2 weeks) sightings of burrowing owls, we made the long trek to Tracy, CA In a vacant lot full of dry weeds and copious ground squirrels we located and photographed a single owl “guarding” its hole. Its eyes were transfixed on me and it did not move until, later in the session, it finally dove back beneath the sod. A pair of burly ground squirrels was also photographed nearby.
Less than a mile away we scoped another vacant lot. It was near a mini-mall shopping area parking lot and there were no ground squirrel holes or owls to be seen. A passerby with nice camera told us the owls were down now…mid-day heat bothers them, etc.
Near the southern border of Sacramento, a bit north of Elk Grove, we scoped out another recent report of “eight burrowing owls” along the fence boundary of the North Cosumnes River Community College soccer fields. This area was planted and lined with dark wood chips. It did not resemble any burrowing owl habitat I’d ever seen. None were found.
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