I considered that while I was writing this note. Coincidentally we
just heard a Northern Pigmy Owl here, hooting incessently! I think,
unless that owl can really slow his rate, that that is less likely.
Also, I was taking a birding by ear course at the time, and well
remember Bob Sundstrom bringing on the songbirds--and an owl!--with
his hoots. I agree that the Townsend's Solit. would have had to have
been a travellor in my patch of forest....thanks!


>Hi hi-
>
>I'd consider a Northern Pygmy-Owl as an alternative, especially
>given the 'hard to find' aspect of your description - They sound
>similar enough that they could be easily confused.
>
>As for Townsend's Solitaires here, I think you'd be most likely to
>only have one around for short, passing-through periods, not for
>weeks at a time. In Gene Hunn's book, they are listed as 'passing
>through the lowlands' in Spring, but only very uncommon at other
>times of the year.
>
>Anyway , that's my guess.
>
>Matt
>
>>Sometimes, walking toward the south end our little strip of second
>>growth forest on Lk. Sam. s of Northup I'd hear a high-pitched,
>>short call, "pinq", about every fifteen seconds. I spent
>>considerable time trying to chase it down; it was impossible to
>>localize; the more I tried to find the source, the more elusive it
>>became. It would tend to occur for several weeks then
>>disappear--unfortunately, since I hadn't heard it for several years
>>I can't remember seasonal occurrence. Now that we're in the land of
>>the Townsend's solitaire, I'm wondering...their call is quite
>>similar, tho much more frequent, and easier to localize (in open
>>forest/grassland/rocky ridges/cliffs). Is it possible a Townsend's
>>solitaire might have been moving through the PNW??
>>
>>kathy hornbein
>>estes park CO
>>kurlew at earthlink.net
>>_______________________________________________
>>Tweeters mailing list
>>Tweeters at u.washington.edu
>>http://mailman1.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters
>
>
>--