Hi All:

I work in the Metropolitan Park office complex - the silver towers right by
I-5 a little south of REI and the Stewart St. exit. Around 4:00 this
afternoon, I walked across the street to the east tower to get a sweet of
some sort from Starbucks. As I walked past some small oaks in front of the
building, I noticed a lot of vocal and annoyed crows were clustered in a
couple of the trees. I suspected and hoped for an accipiter, but wondered
how I would pick it out through all those red and green leaves. But what I
spotted, right against the trunk and about 2/3 up one tree, was a Barred
Owl. I was amazed and felt very lucky.
One of the security guards said it had been there all day - its presence
only noted when the crows were verbally abusing it. I hope by now it has
flown to more friendly terrain with better hunting possibilities.

Ruth Taylor
Seattle/Ballard
rutht at seanet.com