An Owl on an Afternoon Drive!

A Long-eared Owl at the edge of a brush pile was a very unexpected find recently. They prefer a combination of grassland or other open country for foraging, and dense tall shrubs or trees for nesting and roosting. Perhaps this individual had been scared off its regular day-time roosting spot. It is the first time we have ever seen one that wasn't sheltered within dense coniferous trees.

https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Long-eared_Owl/id

He turned and looked at us, showing his orange face.

Mice and voles are possibly hiding in the brush pile.

A flock of 33 Red-winged Blackbirds, primarily female, were feeding at the edge of a field. They had berries such as rose hips to feast on in the shrubs.

Red-winged Blackbird, female

An American Kestrel chose to stay perched on the line long enough for a photo! Unlike humans, birds can see ultraviolet light. This enables kestrels to make out the trails of urine that voles, a common prey mammal, leave as they run along the ground. Like neon diner signs, these bright paths may highlight the way to a meal!!

https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_Kestrel/overview

Farm Geese out for a walk in the snow!