98 Short-eared Owl

• A group of Shot-eared Owls are called a; Bazaar / Glaring / Parliament / Stooping / Wisdom.
• This one I took with its back to me and yes it was Glaring.
• They generally have a nice round face but when scarred or angry (iritated) they puff up their face and look like they have ears.
• Usually they are nocturnal or semi-nocturnal. You can see them floating above the ground like a Hen Harrier.  They have a bobbing type winged flight that is very graceful.  Rising with several wing beats and then gliding down and repeating this over.  During courtship this is exaggerated to 200 feet above the ground.  Their flight has been referred to as Bat like.
• They are also known as; Evening Owl, Marsh Owl, Bog Owl, Grass Owl, Meadow Owl, Mouse Hawk, Flat-faced Owl, Cat face.  All good names for this bird.
• They prefer open areas, grassland, fields, tundra and marshes.  Places where they can guild and hunt.
• They nest on the ground having 4-6 eggs but when vole are abundant can have up to 12 eggs.  They will fake a broken wing to lure predators away from the nest.
• "Waowk, waowk, waowk, toot, toot, toot" can be herd from these birds at dusk. 
• They can hunt in pairs looking for rodents. 
• They arrive early in March and nest in April.