A Search for Owls

Trip leaders: Gregg Petersen & David Cummings Date of trip: February 24, 2024
Location: Annapolis Rock Road Number attending: 14
Details: The three owl pellets had the remnants of a Microtus (Meadow Vole) cranium and bones and bill of what looked to be a Northern Cardinal. Given that and the relative size of the pellets and the longer bird bones, Jay Sheppard assessed that they were produced by a Barred Owl, which would be consistent with the bird we saw.
Red-headed Woodpecker (Jayden Ward)
Barred Owl (Jayden Ward)
Group (Gregg Petersen)
Skull of Meadow Vole (Gregg Petersen)
Barred Owl Pellet Contents (Gregg Petersen)

Mourning Dove  2
Cooper’s Hawk  1
Sharp-shinned/Cooper’s Hawk  1
Barred Owl  1
Red-headed Woodpecker  1
Red-bellied Woodpecker  3
Pileated Woodpecker  1
American Crow  6
Fish Crow  2
Common Raven  1

Carolina Chickadee  3
Tufted Titmouse  4
White-breasted Nuthatch  2
Carolina Wren  3
Eastern Bluebird  3
Hermit Thrush  1
American Robin  2
Eastern Towhee  4
Red-winged Blackbird  2
Northern Cardinal  5