Mystery solved! - From Gary Mitchell and his wife Jennifer Freeman - Thank you both!!
| I can clear up the mystery about the two birders from Kittery that first saw the Great Gray Owl in Durham off of Dame Road. It was my wife, Jennifer Freeman and myself. We had just come out of the woods into the parking area near the road when I caught some movement out of the corner of my eye. I turned and the owl flew by me less than 30 feet away. It flew up into a hemlock tree, where we got an excellent view of it less than 20 feet away. As you can imagine it was quite thrilling. - Gary Mitchell |
An update from Steve Mirick on when the bird was 1st seen:
| "Details are fuzzy, (see above) but it appears that the bird was first seen on April 1st by the two birders from Maine (per Dick Dean). The bird was then possibly seen by another birder(s) on April 2 (via Kurk Dorsey and TNC employee?). Word went out on April 3rd. Bird relocated on April 4th by Terry Bronson who confirmed the ID and got the word out." |
| Reported to NHBird on April 3 & MABird on April 4 in Durham, NH on Dame Road by Terry Bronson. Not seen on April 5 and then re-found in the same area on April 6 this fabulous Owl sat, hunted and preened for 40 minutes before flying a bit further into the woods and pouncing on & swallowing a prey item. Thank you to everyone that got the word out on this spectacular rarity! |
"Click" on any image for a larger photo...
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 Something caught it's eye. |
 A look at the habitat it was hunting in. |
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 I think it found us all pretty funny looking! |
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This shot reminded me of Heath Ledger in "Why so serious" |
All photos taken with a Canon 50D & Canon 100 - 400 mm lens
All photos © Phil Brown 2009
