Hi Fellow Birders,
"Who-cooks-for-you-all? is the song of the Barred Owl I have been hearing
throughout the nights for the last few weeks. This morning he was perched
in one of the apple trees close to one of my feeders with big eyes looking
to see whether there might be something to snack. A far cry from the simple
hoot one tends to think of as the typical owl's call, it is a reminder that
owls as a group are capable of a varied range of vocalizations.
The Northern Saw-whet Owl I reported on a few weeks ago had that raspy
sounding note that resembled the sound of a saw blade being sharpened with a
file..
The Barred Owl is one of the virtuosos of the lot, with a raucous repertoire
that includes all sorts of squeeks and squawks, screeches, barks, and yowls.
Launching into a maniacal mixture of demonic cries, it can produce a
chorus that is truly spine-tingling -especially when heard late at night in
the deep, swampy forest that is among its preferred haunts. My wife,
Jeanne, has stood in the back yard letting our Mini Beagle out and wondering
what she has been hearing some nights. Small wonder that the bird is known
locally in some areas as the crazy owl. I shall try to keep you up to date
and promise that I wil be more brief than this introduction.
The Red Headed Woodpecker, female, has been entertaining us again for the
last month and a half. She appears to enjoy the feeder north of the house
up as high as our Air Mail Box, 3 meters high. Several Blue Jays, pair of
Northern Cardinals, a dozen Juncos, close to a dozen Black Capped
Chickadees, a couple of Hairy & Downey Woodpeckers, a dozen Mournign Doves,
a Black Bird and a Great Blue Heron who is still trying to feed on our fish
in the Water Garden.
The Red Breasted Mergansers, Buffleheads, Hooded Mergansers and Long Tailed
Ducks have made their comeback. I sighted the Buffleheads, Hooded
Mergansers in the Marshy area by St. Mary cement plant south of Bowmanville,
The Red Breasted Mergansers south of Newcastle on the lake and the Long
Tailed Ducks in the Cobourgt Harbor.
And I continue to see Rough Legged, Red Tailed Hawks gliding through the air
and hovering at times as well as the American Kestrel.
Happy Birding Everyone.
Directions: Take the 410 exit south off Highway # 401 and my home is one
hald km. north of the Lake. Take the Liberty exit south of Bowmanville from
Highway# 401 and turn right over the Railroad track and drive through the
Marsh. For Cobourg Harbor turn off from Highway # 401 and follow directions
to Harbor and drive out on the pier.
Markus J. Lise
Newcastle, On
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