Subject: [Tweeters] An owl surprise this morning
Date: Nov 5 11:21:27 2004
From: Rob Sandelin - floriferous at msn.com


The crows and jays told me something was up in the back woods this morning,
so I put on my boots and bins and went to see for myself. I expected to find
either a barred owl, or perhaps a red-tail or coop. I entered the yelling
zone, where the jays and crows were busy complaining loudly about the
raptorial intrusion into their domain. I looked and looked and saw nothing
for five minutes. Then, I walked over a bit to get a different perspective
and a particularly brave jay swooped down into the gloom and to my absolute
delight and astonishment, directly overhead where I had been standing, and
less than 10 feet off the ground, was a HUGE great horned owl. He was backed
up right against the trunk. I was so chagrined that I could miss such an
enormous bird directly over my head. Sheeesh. Some birder I am..... After
watching the owl for a few minutes, it decided to find a quieter resting
place and headed off into the woods. It flew close by and it was magical how
it moved with no sound. Well no sound by the owl anyway, the jays and crows
left a raucous and easily followed aural path as they followed the owl.

I went home for my camera but never did find the owl again, but then, I seem
to be especially challenged today about finding things.

Rob Sandelin
Naturalist, writer
Snohomish County, WA


---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.784 / Virus Database: 530 - Release Date: 10/27/2004