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December 2010

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Subject:
From:
Terence Brashear <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Terence Brashear <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Mon, 20 Dec 2010 10:03:14 -0700
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I had a co-worker tell me this morning she saw an owl like Hedwig on her drive in today.  It was at the intersection of 494 and 212.  Worth keeping your eyes peeled for this bird.

Terry Brashear

Hennepin County, MN

http://www.naturepixels.com

birdnird AT yahoo.com

--- On Sun, 12/19/10, Donn Mattsson <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

From: Donn Mattsson <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Re: [mou-net] Very Possible Snowy Owl
To: [log in to unmask]
Date: Sunday, December 19, 2010, 9:59 AM

Regarding Scott Clark's sighting of a possible Snowy Owl on Dec. 18th:

At 11:15 AM on Dec. 18th my son Jon told me that while driving on Clearwater Dr. just east of 494 and the Crosstown interchange he saw what he was sure was a Snowy Owl.  The bird was standing to the west on an open hillside about 60 yards from the road as he drove by at 30mph.  Realizing that this was an unusual sighting, and knowing thay he would be grilled by his dad and uncle Jim, he turned the car around and drove back to see the bird more closely.  As he approached the still sitting bird it took wing and glided behind the car and sailed over to the east side of Clearwater Dr. where a large parking lot and open field run parallel to the Crosstown Highway. This was the last he saw of the bird.  About 2:00 PM I searched around the area with no luck to relocate the owl.  Though not a "birder" Jon has always had very good observation skills.  He has seen this species a number of times in the past.  He mentioned that the bird was mostly white with
 some dark spotting on the head. The round head and body shape were noticed.
Scott Clark's sighting was only about a mile south from where Jon saw his bird. Scott didn't say what time he saw the bird, but it seems likely they may have seen the same owl.  Hopefully this will help the angst that has plagued Scott and also satisfy his avuncular CBC Coordinator

Donn Mattsson









----- Original Message ----- From: "SCOTT M CLARK" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Sunday, December 19, 2010 10:34 AM
Subject: [mou-net] Possible Snowy Owl


This has plagued me for 24 hours. Yesterday after completing my section of Eden Prairie for the CBC I believe that I saw a Snowy Owl. As my avuncular CBC Coordinator stated we would need complete documentation and I don't have it. I was traveling east on Hwy 5, and just before the 494 interchange I saw a white bird on the south side of the road. It was in flight, about forty yards from the car and about fifty feet in the air, close enough for a good non-binocular look. My birding radar was confused since white birds are gull types, leucistics, etc. This bird was ghostly white in the gray day and was "fat" in body and had a fat cylinder shape to it. Due to the shape and general feel it wasn't a gull, hawk, etc. It was flying slow, slow wing beats and by the time I was past it, it effectively flew past the back of the car north. I recognized that by going north on 494 I may see it again and then realized that the shape was an owl.  By this time it was on
 the west side of 494 ( northwest quadrant of 494 and 5) and was obviously to far away to see color, etc. However, it was hunting in a harrier pattern, with a short few flaps and a glide, all the while circling low to the ground. The wings were much broader in shape and pattern than a harrier also. The bird circled with a slight dihedral. Attempts to relocate were not successful. If you are in the area keep a lookout and I have posted a Starbucks gift card as a reward for its sighting. Not documentable but I am 99.99% sure, I know that only Steve Weston can properly identify at 60 mph. Scott

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