This evening about 5:10 I heard a Barred Owl call near the Long Branch
Nature Center building, followed by greeting cackles. Then the greeting
sounds got closer and I saw the silhouettes of the 2 owls in the dimming
light, way up a tree near the parking lot. Then one owl flew south to the
upper part of another tree about 150 feet away, followed by the second.
They were up in that tree for a few seconds, then one owl flew north. I
could see it had what looked like a Gray Squirrel in its talons, with the
long tail streaming behind. The second owl followed and I lost them. Very
cool. We have had Barreds around here every year for the last at least five
years, but this was my first sighting in a while, and the first time I have
seen a catch.
It was interesting to hear more squirrels uttering a particular chittering
that I understand to be an alarm call.
White-throated Sparrows are abundant in the area, and the Winter Wrens are
back. I find the little wrens become very vocal at dusk.
Cheers,
Steve Young
Arlington
