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Short eared owl attacking rough legged hawk. See second set of wings, tail, and talons.
My favorite show of winter in the Samish and Skagit Flats are the raptors. This area has one of the highest (if not the highest) concentration of wintering raptors in the west and possibly the US. They're here for the vast numbers of voles, round tubular mouse-looking critters with a short stubby tail and two small ears set above tiny bead-size eyes. They tunnel through the tall grasses munching on the vegetation. Some of the raptors are also after the numerous wintering shorebirds, ducks, and snow geese. I've seen peregrine falcons nail a duck in flight, feathers flying everywhere and chase shorebirds at amazing and flight moves.
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Peregrine falcon preening in the sunlight
I've watched northern harriers eating a snow goose, although generally they're after the rodents. They fly low and and steady over the fields looking for their next meal. The snow goose was likely an injured bird making it easy pickins'. The male northern harrier is one of the more striking birds as he glides over the marshes (hence their former name marsh hawk). When seen close up the silver feathers blend delicately with browns and blacks. Like the female he has the patch of white at the base of the tail. He's 1/3 smaller than the female the same as all raptors and is more challenging to find than the females. Most of the harriers are the reddish brown of the juveniles and adult females. Still lovely, still owl-like in their flight and facial disk.That facial disk is the same as an owls, focusing the raspy sounds of rodents in the grass into their hidden ears behind the disc feathers. The fortunate people are those who get to watch both the harrier and the short-eared owl cruising over the same fields. The owls and their butterfly flight and the harrier with its more directed flight pattern. They often battle over their area like siblings battling over a toy. Both are colorful when seen up close.
Northern harrier perched and landing on branch
Bald eagles aren't just about salmon. They'll take ducks and geese as well as sit in a field looking for rodents. Merlins, gyrfalcons, prairie falcons, and kestrels are all possibilities in winter. The gyr and prairie falcon being exceedingly rare and very exciting to see. Red-tailed hawks are a given with increased numbers and morphs during the winter months. Fenceposts, telephone poles and wires, and trees all hold the football-shaped silhouette of a red.
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Rough-legged hawk landing on branch and one sitting on pole.
Rough-legged hawks come down from the north every winter, sometimes in large numbers and other years few are here. Unlike snowy owls it's almost guaranteed one will be seen during the winter without too much work. More delicate-looking and colorful than red-tails thay can be seen hovering over a grassy field hunting rodents.
Cooper's and sharp-shinned hawks tend to eat birds and can be found perched in the tall cottonwoods and alders along the waterways and dikes. Forest hawks, their short broad wings and long tails help them maneuver quickly through the trees.
Any and all of these raptors can be seen perched in a variety of places. Learning their differing silhouettes and flight style make identifying them much easier. Around here, it's smart to check out the Falcon Research Group and Bud Anderson's classes. This winter has been a gift not long forgotten with the numerous close encounters with the short-eared owls. Last year was the year of the snowy owl, this year is for the short-eared owls. Every winter is a new adventure, wandering the river flats to spy what raptor has returned to spend their winter with us.
And here's a bonus northern shrike.
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In the meantime, it's March and here's a great description of this wild and crazy month.
"It was one of those March days when the sun shines hot and the wind blows cold:when it is summer in the light, and winter is in the shade."
Charles Dickens
