Dave Nicosia and I joined together to take some SFO members to hopefully see Woodcocks and Owls. It was a very calm and warm evening which is great for owls.
First we went to Irby Lovett's home in Ellis Hollow. There were 2 very active Woodcocks penting and making fluttery sounds with their wings. We had excellent looks at them as they flew around. Irby had a Great Horned Owl calling before we got there. Eventually 3 of us heard it. Pretty cool! Then we went to Durland Preserve on Ellis Hollow Creek Road. We stood in the parking lot, and I spent about 20 minutes, using the Bird Tunes App, playing call back for Barred Owls. I think the tune that got them REALLY interested was the song where a pair are calling to each other making weird vocalizations. The first Barred Owl we heard was to the right of us. Then we heard 2 owls straight ahead of us. I kept playing, and the ones in front came in closer, then we heard them to the right of us getting even closer, then they flew to the trees behind us. One owl could be easily seen in a tree behind us. I played a call back once more, and they flew directly over us. They kept calling for another 20 minutes. Guess they had a lot to say to us. During that time we also heard another pair of Barred Owls off to our right. I tried playing for Screech Owl, but the Barred Owls kept calling. It was hard to ignore them. A Screech Owl never returned our call. I did play it for quite awhile.The small owl probably felt greatly out numbered! Anyway, the trip was a success, and everyone went home happy. Thank you to the people that joined us. It was great! Good Birding, Ann -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
