Large shells and large owls.

[Fossil_Adult]

I decided to go hit up a new creek that I’d had my eyes on for a while. I didn’t know whether or not this would have anything good in it, so I biked there to go find out myself. Let me say, for the 1 1/2 hour I biked to reach this place, I’m really happy with all that I found. I also saw one of the coolest owls I’ve ever seen. 
 

It was about 2 and a half feet in size and the color of it was orangish brown and black. I think it was a great horned owl, and it looked like this: 

 

 

It swooped down on a branch about 10 feet in front of me, looked me dead in the eyes, and then a second later flapped it’s wings 2 times and was gone. It left about as fast as it landed, but stayed long enough where I can remember the encounter. Now onto the finds!

 

I found an assortment of shells, including a few that might need some identification if y’all are wanting to chime in. Found some shark teeth, ray plates, and large reptile bones as well. Here’s all the stuff from this new creek:

the total haul:

 

 

a shell I would like some ID help on (aquia formation, Paleocene):

 

 

found this beautiful gastropod from the same creek yesterday: any ideas would be helpful!

 

Another gastropod:

 

 

a what I believe to be a turritella and a fish scale in the rock:

 

 

some bone fragments (large but nice pieces):

 

 

and lastly, shark teeth and a croc tooth:

 

 

that was a long report so if you stuck around, thanks! I won’t ever forget this day and how close that large bird came to me!

[Thomas.Dodson]

The shell looks like a Panopea to me. I did a search for Panopea from the Aquia Formation and Panopea elongata came up from a site on the Potomac. It seems a decent match but I'd like to see a pic of the shell straight down (solid surface, not held) and the umbo.

 

I'd also like to see more pics of Gastropod #2 but it could be a Lunatia/Euspira. The same locality above describes an unidentified Lunatia and Lunatia marylandica.

 

A copy of the old report.

Eocene of Virginia by Benjamin Gildersleeve

[sixgill pete]

Awesome that you saw the owl. There is a small creek off of one of the local rivers here that my brother and I call owl creek. Every time we go into this creek we see many owls. Two or three different species.

 

Great finds also.

[JohnJ]

You will never forget that encounter!  I enjoyed your story.

[Fossil_Adult]

2 hours ago, Thomas.Dodson said:

The shell looks like a Panopea to me. I did a search for Panopea from the Aquia Formation and Panopea elongata came up from a site on the Potomac. It seems a decent match but I'd like to see a pic of the shell straight down (solid surface, not held) and the umbo.

 

I'd also like to see more pics of Gastropod #2 but it could be a Lunatia/Euspira. The same locality above describes an unidentified Lunatia and Lunatia marylandica.

 

A copy of the old report.

Eocene of Virginia by Benjamin Gildersleeve

Thanks for the help! Here’s some better pictures of the shells in question I assume:

 

1 hour ago, sixgill pete said:

Awesome that you saw the owl. There is a small creek off of one of the local rivers here that my brother and I call owl creek. Every time we go into this creek we see many owls. Two or three different species.

 

Great finds also.

Wow that’s amazing. Large birds of prey are such majestic animals. Thanks for the reply!

1 hour ago, JohnJ said:

You will never forget that encounter!  I enjoyed your story.

Thanks you! It’s crazy to think about such big owls living so close to the border of DC. I just didn’t think one would be so close!

[jpc]

owls can make for great memories.

 

Oh, AND you found some fun fossils AND had a good bike ride.  A Good Day.  Thanks for sharing

Edited August 7, 2021 by jpc