Quest for the Rough-leg 1/17/12

    Though I had a 1 sec. look at a ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK last weekend as it ducked behind a barn, I really want a better look at a very cool bird. Consequently on the heels of Pat Palmer's double sighting on Sunday, Pat, Nick Minor, and myself headed for Rollins Savanna to see if we could catch up with one of these elusive birds.
  The trip started off well as I spied a male AMERICAN KESTREL on a power line on the south side of Rollins Rd. as we headed to the Drury Ln. parking lot.

   Once in the lot, we scanned the area but saw nothing. We ventured north on the trail toward the observation deck. We stopped a few yards short of the deck and scanned again. This time we got nice looks at a male "gray ghost" NORTHERN HARRIER as it cruised right above the grasses.

   After checking the observation deck area, we meandered south through the grassland. Not far from the observation deck we encountered a band of about 50 or so AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS

with a SONG SPARROW thrown in.

  We continued south and were able to see another Northern Harrier. This time a female. As we prepared to round the corner and head back, I saw to the east a group of 4 SHORT-EARED OWLS hunting and some were barking! Totally cool.

    Unfortunately, we never did see the Rough-legged Hawk, but we saw a few cool birds nonetheless. Always a good day when you're birding!