Tag Archives: Burrowing Owl

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Sara Bogard had caught a glimpse of what she thought was a small owl. Then she saw it some days later - a cute Burrowing Owl.

Sara's photo doesn't show this owl's long legs. They live in burrows that they create or utilize burrows of other creatures. They hunt rodents and insects in grasslands. Their habitat is shrinking due to we humans, so it's heartening to see one on the coast. And, yes, Burrowing Owls have bright yellow eyes!

Their call is a two-note "who, whooo" and you can hear it at this link at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Burrowing_Owl/sounds

Thanks to Sara for allowing me to share her photo with you here.

A cloudy, windless, mild day today. Tomorrow is suppose to be sunny and then the storm door opens once again.

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Mark Hancock wrote, “Last week when Laverne, Tasi – our new rescue dog from Redwood Coast Humane Society – and I were traveling to the Bay Area. We stopped to take Tasi take for a walk.

“Upon returning to the truck we noticed a Burrowing Owl perched in some rocks. Its coloring makes it blend in perfectly. He/she was quite content to let me take come pictures, looking right at me with its piercing golden eyes. What a treat!”

 

Burrowing Owls are small owls with long legs. If they are disturbed, which the one Mark photographed obviously wasn’t, they bob up and down in a “deep knee-bend” movement. They have a wingspan of 21 inches, but only weigh five ounces. If you are fortunate enough to see one, keep your distance so you don’t disturb this owl.

Thanks to Mark for allowing me to share his photo with  you here.

 

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I have to admit it - I love owls. Richard Kuehn recently saw and photographed a Burrowing Owl on the north end of The Sea Ranch, the first one he has seen there in five years.

This little owl can be seen hunting for insects in the day and night. It's a smart owl too. Burrowing Owls put dung from other critters around the outside of their nests. That attracts dung beetles, which they love to eat.

To hear the call of this owl, here is the link to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/burrowing_owl/sounds

Thanks to Rich for allowing me to share his photo with you here.

To see several photos of another little owl that landed on our deck railing, a Northern Pygmy Owl, here's the link to that post: http://www.mendonomasightings.com/2011/08/20/a-northern-pygmy-owl-paid-us-a-visit-in-anchor-bay-earlier-this-week/

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Cute as can be, a Burrowing Owl was recently photographed by Coastal photographer Ron LeValley.

Here's what Ron wrote about his photo: "The burrowing owl that I posted a photo of in January is still present. They usually don't stay on the coast in the spring and summer, as they nest inland. But this one is still here. It's unusual to see a Burrowing Owl with ice plant.This photograph was taken at MacKerricher State Park, Mendocino County, California on March 17, 2013."

This small Owl eats insects. To hear its call, here's the link to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology website: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/burrowing_owl/sounds

To see much more of Ron's photography, here's the link to his website: http://www.levalleyphoto.com/home/ Thanks to Ron for allowing me to share his photo with you here.

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Burrowing Owls are a rare sighting on the Mendonoma Coast. Ron LeValley recently photographed one at MacKerricher State Park. Here's what Ron had to say about his sighting: "My gallery partner Ken called and told me about this Burrowing Owl hanging out near the old Haul Road just south of Ward Avenue in the state park. These birds mostly live in the Central Valley but a few winter on the north coast each year. These are only about 8 inches tall, but they stand taller!"

 Tim Moulton photographed a young one at The Sea Ranch several years ago.

To hear the call of this special Owl, here's the link to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Burrowing_Owl/id

To see much more of Ron's wildlife photography, here's the link to his website: http://www.levalleyphoto.com/home/