Ask a birder about finding owls, and their advice will be to go out at dawn or dusk. Or the middle of the night to hear the owls calling.
But not if you’re looking for Short-eared Owls.
Which are one of the few owls active during the day and night, especially during breeding season.
In southeast Michigan, late fall/early winter is when people start reporting Short-eared Owls as they glide silently with a moth-like motion over harvested cornfields.
Or perch on fence posts in late afternoon.
This bird was one of four Short-eared Owls I saw in Monroe County, at a southeast Michigan location known for Bobolinks and Blue-headed Grosbeaks in summer.
I don’t think I’ve ever seen so many Short-eared owls in flight at the same time!
It was late afternoon on a cloudy day; the birds flew over the cornfields crossing the dirt road.
And then this owl slowed its flight and perched on a fence post.
Taken from a distance with a telephoto lens, the photo has been heavily cropped.
Note the short tufts of feathers on top of its head; they’re ear tufts of the Short-eared Owl.
I’ve seen a lot of birds live, but an owl is on my avian bucket list.
They are beautiful birds to see.