Towheeblog

This evening we saw a pair of Great Gray Owls hunting in the Cascades of Lane County. It was likely a mated pair without eggs that need incubating. The area was still getting snow in mid-April. This was a lifer for one biorder with me. At one point a perched owl was dived on by a raven but untouched. Our final view of this owl–it had caught a voile which it was carryingn in its beak. After a brief lim perch it flew off into the woods, for dinner most likely. It will swallow the vole whole, head first. Owl pellet to follow.

Also present: numerous deer, junco, White-crowned Sparrow, Steller’s Jay, pileated. The area is home to Band-tailed Pigeons, Osprey, Spotted Owl, Wild Turkey, flickers and wintering Mountain Quail. This area is under 2000 feet elevation.