Cleveland County Trip Report: January 26, 2005

Upper Cleveland County is the perfect place to find a wide range of open country birds as habitats range from farm fields and pastures to hedgerows, shrubby edges and wooded areas. Common species like American Kestrel and Eastern Meadowlark are almost always easy to find, along with winter sparrows, such as White-throated, White-crowned, Savannah, Field, Song, and Chipping. Red-tailed Hawks have been seen in good numbers this winter. Our Venture to Cleveland County on January 25 found all these birds and more. Of course, one of the main reasons to bird in Cleveland County is to seen Barn Owls and this Venture found not one, but four, in one building. The owls were perched on beams under the overhanging roofs of the building-two under each beam. As the owls flushed from their perches one by one, the group got extended views as they flew around and toward them before heading to the woods. One flew out, then back to its perch before taking off again. Everyone was thrilled at getting such good looks at one stop. The owls all seemed to be about the same age, probably last year's brood. Other notable finds were 2 Horned Larks at the famous "dirt farm", a fly-over Loggerhead Shrike, otherwise a good all-round supporting cast.

Eastern Phoebe