Short-eared Owl

You might see one around the Lake, but exceedingly rarely. Indeed, I had only seen a Short-eared Owl once before and that was in 2012 on the grasslands of Kokanee Creek Park (owl wins). This time I got a better picture.

Short-eared Owls compete with Northern Harriers for mice and voles found in grasslands. Not surprisingly, they are not buddies. When spotted, the one below was being chased by two harriers, but it then looped around behind and chased them. A scrappy owl it is.

A Short-eared Owl is chasing harriers that are out of the picture.