• A sudden cold front! and I hear an Owl

    From jmcquown@j_mcquown@comcast.net to rec.birds on Tue May 18 21:52:29 2021
    From Newsgroup: rec.birds

    It was about 82-#F degrees here in southern South Carolina today and
    humid so AC was required. In the late afternoon the winds picked up and
    a cold front blew in. The temps have dropped drastically and wow, no
    need for AC. I've got the screened patio door and some other windows
    open. A very nice cross breeze. Quite pleasant!

    I'm hearing an Owl. I cannot tell what kind of an Owl. I've never
    actually seen an Owl where I live. It's calling from the trees across a
    golf course behind my house. I did not hear a return call so he moved
    on. But surely he must be nesting someplace nearby for the night?
    Perhaps I'll hear him calling again after he's done hunting for food.
    I'm hoping he'll hear an answering call. The weather is clear but it's
    a waning moon so visibility of prey on the ground is likely difficult.

    I love being able to have the windows open and hear the night birds
    calling. Often there are a number of them. For now, things are silent.
    I hear only the wind. Even the bugs and peepers (tiny frogs) are
    silent. Hmmm.

    Maybe the Owl will call again. I'm wondering why all of a sudden
    everyting outside is silent.

    Jill <--- in Southern South Carolina
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  • From super70s@super70s@super70s.invalid to rec.birds on Tue May 18 23:25:50 2021
    From Newsgroup: rec.birds

    In article <yb_oI.95548$b27.1917@fx03.iad>,
    jmcquown <j_mcquown@comcast.net> wrote:

    I love being able to have the windows open and hear the night birds
    calling. Often there are a number of them. For now, things are silent.
    I hear only the wind. Even the bugs and peepers (tiny frogs) are
    silent. Hmmm.

    Being an insomniac of late I stepped outside at 3:00 a.m. last night and
    heard a Mockingbird singing away in the distance. I don't hear him
    tonight but it's only around midnight and maybe he's waiting a few more
    hours to start the concert. :)
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  • From Leon Fisk@lfiskgr@gmail.invalid to rec.birds on Wed May 19 10:15:46 2021
    From Newsgroup: rec.birds

    On Tue, 18 May 2021 21:52:29 -0400
    jmcquown <j_mcquown@comcast.net> wrote:
    It was about 82-#F degrees here in southern South Carolina today and
    humid so AC was required. In the late afternoon the winds picked up and
    a cold front blew in. The temps have dropped drastically and wow, no
    need for AC. I've got the screened patio door and some other windows
    open. A very nice cross breeze. Quite pleasant!

    I'm hearing an Owl. I cannot tell what kind of an Owl. I've never
    actually seen an Owl where I live. It's calling from the trees across a >golf course behind my house. I did not hear a return call so he moved
    on. But surely he must be nesting someplace nearby for the night?
    Perhaps I'll hear him calling again after he's done hunting for food.
    I'm hoping he'll hear an answering call. The weather is clear but it's
    a waning moon so visibility of prey on the ground is likely difficult.

    I love being able to have the windows open and hear the night birds
    calling. Often there are a number of them. For now, things are silent.
    I hear only the wind. Even the bugs and peepers (tiny frogs) are
    silent. Hmmm.

    Maybe the Owl will call again. I'm wondering why all of a sudden
    everyting outside is silent.

    Jill <--- in Southern South Carolina
    Just guessing... but could be Barred or Great Horned Owl. They make the
    classic "hoot" sounds attributed to owls. Some recordings, info on these
    owls here:
    https://www.audubon.org/news/learn-identify-five-owls-their-calls
    Owls have EXCELLENT hearing and use this for hunting. So a dark night
    probably doesn't bother them much: https://www.owlpages.com/owls/articles.php?a=6
    My favorite local owl would be the Screech Owl (also in Audubon link
    page). Sound more like a horse whinny than owl :)
    --
    Leon Fisk
    Grand Rapids MI
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