We were pleasantly awakened at 0500 this morning by an owl "hooting"
outside our window. We live in the Seahurst part of Burien, WA which is
quite wooded (we actually have 200 year old firs in our yard and 80 year
old Sequoias, imported from California in 1915, across the street!).

I have no expeience ID-ing owls by sound, but I took very close note of the
tone and pattern and I believe it was a Great Horned Owl. The only other
possibility is the Barred Owl but this individual had a relatively low
voice. The pattern of hoots was interesting as it called in two sections:
"Hoo Hoo Hoo" of steady tones then "Hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo Hoo-hoot" in an
accelerating downward glissando. I listened to the Peterson bird songs
record later this morning and think the ID is correct. Any comments?

We've had neighbors talk of the owls around here, but this is our first
encounter since moving in in July. One neighbor is sure they have a Spotted
Owl nesting in their Western Red Cedar.

Tom Benedict
tbenz at halcyon.com