We have had lots of luck lately seeing birds. On Saturday evening, we rode our bikes south of campus to a path we were introduced to when we went on a "hawk walk" by the UC Davis California Raptor Center a few weeks ago. Chris really wanted to see a great-horned owl. We looked and looked but didn't see one. We did see other birds including lots of swallows (eating all the mosquitos!), orioles, and loons. But the real treat came on the ride back when a great-horned owl swooped right in front of Chris (he was in the lead) and flew up to a eucalyptus tree on the side of the road. We stopped and watched him for a while. It was pretty dark, but with Chris's nifty bike light shining on him, we could see him pretty well, especially with his binoculars. The owl didn't think much of us; he didn't seem to mind that we stood and watched him.
Last night, we went for a walk out on the northern side of town, out Pole Line Road. ( I love that name, Pole Line Road.) We ended up on a protected habitat near a golf course. Maybe this is where the burrowing owls are, we thought. We didn't see any for a good ways, but then there he was! These little guys are really, well, little. He just sat there and looked to the left and to the right and to the left and to the right. Chris walked closer to him to get a better view (startling a jackrabbit in the process who cut right in front of him on his way over the hill. There are jackrabbits all over here, too. I really like them.) When he got too close to the owl, he flew over by me and landed on a post. From here we got a really good view of him. As we continued our walk, we saw bunches of them. They are like prarie dogs: popping up out of their holes on either side of the trail. It was great to see them!
We love Davis!
1 comment:
Great to hear you two have found so much to keep you active & interested in the great outdoors. Sounds like many great excursions are accessible.
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