Subject: [Tweeters] Seattle SCREECH OWL
Date: Jul 25 23:10:07 2012
From: Tim Billo - timbillo at u.washington.edu


Seem to be having good luck with owls lately.

Saw what appeared to be a juvenile western screech owl in Coleman Park
today just above the Mt. Baker neighborhood swim area on Lake Washington.
First time I've seen a screech owl in Seattle, although from what I
understand they used to be fairly common in the wooded parks of the city.
It had yellow eyes and "ear" tufts, but other markings were not
particularly distinctive and some of its plumage still looked a bit downy.
This bird was perched right above the North/South trail on the north end
of the park. Seemed unconcerned about people passing by.

The two juvenile barred owls I reported on last month can still be
reliably seen in the arboretum. Just listen for mobbing. I had one owl hop
out of the tree and land on the asphalt of Arboretum Drive right in front
of me two days ago. I've never seen anything like that. It appeared to be
pecking at fir needles on the asphalt, but it may have been picking up
insects that I couldn't see.

There are also two juvenile barred owls in Seward Park, as of about a week
ago. Again, listen for other birds mobbing them, as well as their begging
calls. I saw them near the midpoint of the broad trail that runs across
the park through the woods.

Cheers,

timbillo at uw.edu