[Birdtalk] Northern Saw-whet Owl in Ogden

[kristinpurdy at comcast.net]

Thank goodness my friend Jack Rensel is a good sport. This afternoon I dragged him through an inhumane amount of brush, under vindictive oak scrub and up a 45 degree slope to see a NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL at Beus Park in Ogden, Weber County. 

A mixed flock of chickadees, juncos, Song Sparrows and goldfinches mobbed the owl, which is what drew me to the bird in the first place. The owl was high on the east slope of the park sitting in a leafy shrub. When I finally found the bird, the attention from the Neighborhood Watch had diminished and the owl concentrated on preening while I watched from 15-20 feet away. I did my best not to spill down the slope. 

Jack arrived a short time later and we bushwhacked back to the spot to get more looks at that sweet China doll face looking back at us through the leaves. Sometimes the bird slept, sometimes it cleaned its little feet, sometimes it stretched a wing, but it always remained super-cute. 

Luckily, we made a safe descent through the scrub with only a sleeve full of burdock souvenirs.

Let me suggest everyone be alert for small bird mobbing behavior right about now. Today's saw-whet is the second one I've heard of in an unexpected place within 4 days. Another saw-whet was detected and photographed at Garr Ranch on Friday and once again, a mob of small birds "fingered" the owl, attracted an alert observer, and thus got its picture taken. 

For more information on Beus Park, launch the link below.

http://www.utahbirds.org/counties/weber/locations.htm

Kris
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