Tweeters-

Over the years, we have received a number of reports of what are most
likely long-eared owls in the high country of Olympic National Park in the
summer. They seem to center on the Bailey Range, in mixed subalpine
meadow-forest. I once had a reasonable view, but in very poor light, of
what was most likely a long-eared owl near Appleton Pass. Like many of the
sightings that have been reported, I watched a medium sized, dark colored
owl at very late dusk foraging over meadows with a characteristic floppy
winged flight, very unlike the most likely species for that habitat, the
great-horned owl. I squeaked the owl in and it perched at about 20' from
me on a small subalpine fir before flying off, just outside of the range of
my cheap headlamp.

Most range maps do not show this species as a breeder in western
Washington, and most records are of wintering individuals at low
elevations. Has anyone encountered this species in the Olympics for
certain?

Scott Gremel
Port Angeles, WA