June 29, 2004
Burrowing Owls and Purple Martin
After deciding that it was too windy in Winters to stand much chance of hearing the Pewee, I headed out along the stretch of 2nd Street which runs parallel to the railroad and I-80, east Davis. A fenced-off bare field in the middle of the industrial estate holds nesting Burrowing Owls, whose young have recently emerged from their hole. Here's a nice family portrait:
The two smaller babies never strayed far from the burrow:
One of the adults was significantly paler and 'washed-out' looking. This probably makes it the male, since they spend so much time on exposed perches during the day that the sun bleaches their feathers.
Here he is again, enjoying a scratch.
The other adult is much brighter, and is seen here vocalising.
On the way back from the owls, I thought I'd check the 'Sudwerks overpass' (where Pole Line Road crosses I-80) in case last year's Purple Martins had returned. To my surprise, I saw an adult female, apparently prospecting a nest hole (she flew up to it twice but never went in). This hole is in a different place from last year's nest, precariously located over a strip of grass between the railroad and westbound I-80. The Martin co-operatively posed on the adjacent telegraph wires as it stretched and preened.
