12 February 05
Day of the Long-eared Owls
Today we headed south with Sami and Richard to Mercey Hot Springs in Little Panoche Valley to look at long-eared owls, a species neither Pica nor myself have seen. For the past several years, this resort has been the site of a winter roost of these birds, who in daytime hours perch halfway up the interiors of the tamarisk and pine trees. 
The birds couldn’t have been more cooperative. The second one we saw was posed nicely for a sketch, so I went back to the car and got my drawing materials and our scope.
After one full sketch and several details of this bird, I went up the hill to do a quick painting of the Panoche Hills on this beautiful partly cloudy day.
- I’ve always wanted to head up that way.— Chris Clarke 13. February 2005, 08:15 Link
- Very cooperative! Love the first sketch especially.— Coup de Vent 14. February 2005, 10:30 Link
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