McDonald Forest nighttime critters and Sparred Owl

[Lisa Millbank]

Don and I went out to McDonald Forest yesterday as the sun was going down and the evening was starting to cool off a bit.  Townsend's Chipmunks were calling with Swainson's Thrushes and a Western Wood-Pewee family before eventually retiring for the night.  The tree crickets, shield-backed katydids and other cricket species put on a good show as it got dark, slowly building to a full chorus.  Some small unidentified myotis species came out of their daytime roosts and were catching bugs around our heads.  We felt like we had our own private mosquito control service as we listened to their leathery little wings flapping past our ears.  A couple of Great Horned Owls were duetting in the distance.

As we were riding back down the trail, a female Barred Owl and her mate, a "Sparred" Owl (Spotted x Barred hybrid) began their duet.  This individual Sparred Owl is more than likely the same one who has been a resident there for quite a few years.  The sounds we heard last night were identical to what we recorded in 2016, a very distinctive combination of male Spotted and Barred traits.  I can only guess how many little 75% Barred/25% Spotted owlets this guy and his mate have produced, so it would not be surprising to hear some other odd variations that don't sound quite right for a Barred Owl.  A short video with my photos from 2016 and last night's recording are at https://youtu.be/kjK-UYleXVE.

Another pair of Great Horned Owls were duetting by Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center as we rode through the parking lots.

Lisa Millbank & Don Boucher