[Tweeters] Short-eared Owls?

[jimbetz at jimbetz.com]

Tweets,

   I live in Burlington and the Samish Flats and Fir Island are my primary
birding locations.  I am often out there 2 to 4 times a week.  And, being
the opportunistic birder that I am (I am not a life lister nor someone
who seeks out rare/uncommon species) the larger birds are my primary
focus (except for our backyard seed and hummer feeders).

   The flooding was not more than it was in the last two years - particularly
on the Samish Flats where last year we were seeing SEOs in abundance.
   What was different this year was that snow followed by 2 weeks of very
cold weather.  I'm thinking that is what affected the vole population.
And that the birds that prey upon them, seeking food elsewhere, just
haven't returned in any sort of numbers.
   Even the other raptor counts, hawks, falcons, etc. are way down when
compared to last year.  The noticeable exceptions are the Bald Eagles
and the Red-Tailed Hawks which seem to be at similar numbers to the
last two/three years.

   So where -are- the SEOs this year?  Scattered and not concentrated
like they were on the Samish Flats last year?  I like SEOs - because
they are easier to find in the daylight hours.
                                                    - Jim