Seward, Alaska
On Sunday, April 16, I
received two separate reports of NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWLS calling around 11 pm in
the Bear Lake area.
This evening just after 10 pm
when it was amazingly not yet dark, I spotted a large bird fly across the street.
At first I thought it was an unusual, very late-flying Raven, but then I heard
a GREAT-HORNED OWL hooting nearby. Another answered, even closer. Wow!
Happily, a neighbor popped up
with binocs and we watched the Great-horned Owl perched at the top of a spruce
tree in the deepening twilight. I had imagined an owl sitting stiffly upright
like a plastic bird detractor when it hooted, but no! This owl put some pizzazz
into his performance, leaning far forward, all fluffed up, and flipped his tail
upwards to deliver his loud, deep hoots. It seemed the underside of the tail
flashed white. Very impressive and so fun to be able to actually SEE a Great
Horned Owl calling.
Another neighbor drove up and
reported a Saw-whet Owl had just flown across Nash Road front of her car. As we
listened and visited, the Great Horned Owl flew silently overhead, down the
street and back to the mountainside where its mysterious and secretive night
continued.
What a fabulous bonus for the
walk around the block!
Happy Birding!
Carol Griswold
Seward Sporadic Bird Report
Reporter
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