Tried to think of a Valentine's Day-themed avian mystery but failed.
So instead of a mystery, I thought I'd post one of my all-time Celery Farm shots -- by Jerry Barrack. (No surprise.)
Mini-mystery: Where have you seen this photo before? (Look how nice and new the duck box is!)
On Monday I asked,
In a recent "Bird Watcher" column, readers talked about their favorite non-field-guide birding books.
One reader praised "Owl Babies, " by Martin Waddell, illustrated by Patrick Benson.
That got me to thinking: What kind of owl are the mom and babies.
Babies are pictured above, mom in flight below.
Jukie McCall gave a comprehensive answer:
While the author is from Northern Ireland (which only has 3 species of owl), the illustrator, Patrick Benson, appears to be from southeast England. I found a quote from him in which he said, "I am very interested in natural history so I had a good idea of what the owlets might look like and also how to visualize the woods where they lived. I was brought up on a farm and used to spend hours roaming around the woods and fields, climbing trees and discovering the wonders of nature. I also like fishing, and particularly fishing at night, so again I know what the countryside can look and feel like after dark."
So I do think he based his illustrations on an owl species familiar to him. Looking at the available options for England, I believe we're looking at another Tawny Owl situation. Had author Martin Waddell chosen to focus on a species found in Northern Ireland, the options would have been Barn Owl, Long-eared Owl, and Short-eared Owl.
Of those three, I suppose one could make an argument for Short-eared Owl if we want to say there was some artistic license taken, adding that dark stripe between the eyes and down toward the bill, but Short-eared Owls nest on the ground, and the owls in the book are cavity-nesters.... as are Tawny Owls.
Little Owl and Eurasian Eagle Owl would require so much artistic license as to cause anger in birders everywhere. That's my story and I'm sticking to it. ;)
(Thanks, Julie!)
A big shout-out to Neil and Judy MacLellan for cutting down those nasty phrags that spoil the view of Lake Appert from the Boy Scout Platform.
In my column this week, readers talked about their favorite non-field-guide birding books.
One reader praised "Owl Babies, " by Martin Waddell, illustrated by Patrick Benson.
That got me to thinking: What kind of owl are the mom and babies.
Babies are pictured above, mom in flight below.
Cool sun dog over Allendale this a.m.
More on sun dogs here: