23 replies to this topic

[sailormom64]

I think it looks like spotted? Seen in Everett Washington this afternoon, being mobbed by crows.

[GreatHorn]

With that lighter overall color and streaking on the front, looks like "just" a Barred Owl.

[Triplefeather]

Definitely a Barred Owl, considering your location and basically all G said. Nice pictures! I just love these guys

EDIT: Crap, I didn't read that you were in Washington, not South Carolina. Yep, standard operation here fellas. That's how I roll.

[GreatHorn]

Definitely a Barred Owl, considering your location and basically all G said. Nice pictures! I just love these guys

I don't necessarily think Everett Washington is out of range for Spotted, though

And no offense, but they're the least favorite owl that I've seen! (then again, the only other one is Great Horned sooo...... )

[sailormom64]

Thank you! I thought Barred looked a lot browner than this bird but it is pretty overcast today and picture was taken back in the trees a bit. I zoomed in on it and it does look just like Barred, thank you for your help!
oh least favorite? I thought it was pretty, looks almost like a stuffed animal! He was definitely annoyed by the crows that mobbed him but he stayed right there and let me take pictures and gawk at him.

Edited by sailormom64, 10 October 2012 - 09:00 PM.

[WatchNettle]

Great pics! I'm so jealous! All the Owls around my neck of the woods remain elusive. I have three on my Life List because I have heard them but I would just die to see one in the flesh.

[sailormom64]

I was lucky that I got a couple of pictures, my battery was just on the verge of dying, and I was afraid it was going to just cut off before I got a close enough picture of him. He is still out there though, in a different tree but still being harassed by crows. I always try to look and see what crows are fussing about when I hear them screaming in unison, this was the first time I have been lucky enough to see what all the fuss was about!
Great Horn, why is this owl your least favorite?

[cestma]

Wow, wonderful photo op, and you took great advantage of it. I'm jealous, too!

[GreatHorn]

Great Horn, why is this owl your least favorite?

To quote myself:
"they're the least favorite owl that I've seen! (then again, the only other one is Great Horned sooo...... )"
So I've only ever seen two owl species, and I am heavily biased in favor of Great Horned, making Barred my least favorite.

[sailormom64]

I have seen two species also, but didn't id the first one, and this one is my only official one, I think he's pretty cool so far! Where did you see the Great Horned? I wasn't quite sure if maybe this was not a desirable owl to see, like seeing a house sparrow or if it was super common to see one, that is why I was asking.

[meghann]

Well, the only two owls I have experience with are Great Horned and Barred, and out of those two, Barred is my favorite. So neener neener to GreatHorn.

[creeker]

I have seen two species also, but didn't id the first one, and this one is my only official one, I think he's pretty cool so far! Where did you see the Great Horned? I wasn't quite sure if maybe this was not a desirable owl to see, like seeing a house sparrow or if it was super common to see one, that is why I was asking.

No such thing as an undesirable owl sighting! I had a pair of Great-horneds nesting in my yard for years. Never tired of seeing them. Also had a Western Screech Owl nest in the yard each year. Again, always great to see. Man, I miss that place! Personally, it would make my millenium to see a Barred Owl.

[sailormom64]

Well thanks Meghann and Creeker! He stayed in the area for hours, the crows finally stopped screaming but they stood watch the whole time and moved with him when he moved. Don't owls eat squirrels??? because one squirrel climbed right up the tree the owl was in, scampering around til it got within about 3 feet or less from the owl, and then the squirrel froze the way they do when they are trying to pretend to be a yard ornament. But the owl just gazed at it and never made a move toward it.
The thing that kept me from iding my other owl is their ability to just "disappear" into the tree they are in, not good enough yet to get enough field marks to id it and could not get a picture of it.

[creeker]

I should add that many of my daytime owl sightings were thanks to some noisy crows!

[sailormom64]

LOL just the other day I was wondering what in the heck the crows were good for, now I know!

[cestma]

Oh, I always tune in when the crows start making a racket! Tho 99% of the time they're harrassing a Red-tailed Hawk.

[sailormom64]

cestma that was my first thought when I heard them fussing, that I would see some type of hawk, and I was hoping it would be one that I hadn't seen before yet, or if it was one I had seen, then maybe an up close view of one. Never underestimate the crows lol

[GreatHorn]

Didn't mean to offend anyone with my harsh comments. I was just teasing Triplefeather.
It's a great day whenever you see any owl, period.

Well, the only two owls I have experience with are Great Horned and Barred, and out of those two, Barred is my favorite. So neener neener to GreatHorn.

A word, please?

[guy_incognito]

Agree that this is a Barred Owl, unfortunately.

Both Spotted and Barred are found in the Pacific NW. Recently Barred Owls have been expanding, and the Spotteds have been declining by no coincidence. Barred are much more adaptable, but they are also aggressive, and will chase Spotted Owls away from their nesting areas. The US Fish and Wildlife Service may even consider 'thinning the numbers' of Barred Owls to help the Spotteds Owls from vanishing.

[creeker]

Agree that this is a Barred Owl, unfortunately.

Both Spotted and Barred are found in the Pacific NW. Recently Barred Owls have been expanding, and the Spotteds have been declining by no coincidence. Barred are much more adaptable, but they are also aggressive, and will chase Spotted Owls away from their nesting areas. The US Fish and Wildlife Service may even consider 'thinning the numbers' of Barred Owls to help the Spotteds Owls from vanishing.

I heard they were already doing this, with guns.....
http://sanfrancisco....ing-rival-bird/