Subject: [Tweeters] Day roosting BARN OWL in Volunteer Park, Seattle
Date: Jan 10 15:03:47 2009
From: Kevin Purcell - kevinpurcell at pobox.com


I checked the roost again at 2:30pm Saturday Jan 10th and the owl was
perched in the same place (facing in the same direction, about NE).
Perhaps this is his regular roost.

Checking the ground close to the perch he moved after he woke
yesterday to there are 5 discrete whitewash spots. So I suspect he's
been there just a few days at most. I couldn't find the pellet it
regurgitated yesterday (too much other debris on the ground).

I shall be going back again late this afternoon to see it fly again.

The douglas fir in which the BARN OWL is perched/roosted is adjacent
to a yellow house and a set of stairs leading down from the Park's
"loop" road. It is about 80m north of the stairs up to the holloway
from E Prospect.

The wood chippings pile from the cleanups from the recent storm is
the best landmark. Stand about 8m north of that and look to the SW.
Follow the Doug fir right at the boundary of the park up until you
see a clear knot on the front right about 25 to 30 feet AGL. The 6"
branch is on the opposite side (left) of the tree. The owl is perched
just before it's cut-off end, perhaps 8 feet from the trunk.

Yesterday you could clearly see him at 4:30pm with binoculars. After
that you would have to take it on faith until he moves.

On Jan 9, 2009, at 7:16 PM, Kevin Purcell wrote:

> I returned to the site at about 4:30pm to wait for dusk to see when
> the BARN OWL would make it's move. And perhaps go hunting if I was
> lucky.
>
> The owl was still in exactly the same place as he was when I left
> him with eye's closed and a "screwed up" face. No crows bothering
> him at this point. It would have been very difficult to find him if
> I didn't know where to look.

--
Kevin Purcell
kevinpurcell at pobox.com