[obol] Boreal Owl trip

[Paul T. Sullivan]

OBOL:

We stood there in the darkness, 18 of us bundled against the chill of the 
October night at 5000'.  The mud road was dotted with individual snow flakes 
that hadn't melted on the ground.  The air was calm, perfect for calling 
BOREAL OWLS.  Mike Denny stood out in the clearing: "BOOP, OOP, OOP, OOP, 
OOP!" called the tape.  We listened.

The silhouettes of the trees stood as tall beside us as they stood when I 
first visited this ridge 19 years ago.  How many Boreal Owls have they heard 
in their long lives?

On Friday night a few people thought they might have heard a response, but 
it was not for sure.  The adventure was fun anyway.  We got to bed by 1 AM.

Saturday was dotted with the harvest festival in Athena, but no Bluejay. 
With PECTORAL SANDPIPERS and AMERICAN PIPITS at a wet spot in a wheat field. 
With 50-100 MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRDS against a golden wheat field, and the mix of 
fall reds, oranges, greens, browns, and gold as we went down Thorn Hollow 
east of Pendleton.  Cold Springs NWR held 250 each of WHITE PELICANS and 
Double-crested Cormorants, and 150 KILLDEER on the open mud, with a couple 
more Pectoral Sandpipers.

Saturday evening 7 intrepid souls revisited the high ridge.  Again we had 
calm conditions for calling the owls.  This time there was one subtle, 
down-slurred "teuwp!" from the trees, a real BOREAL OWL.  Not everyone heard 
it, and it didn't repeat.  However, we did see a BLACK BEAR both going and 
coming, as well as mule deer, and a snowshoe hare that ran down the road 
ahead of us.

On Sunday we visited Touchet, WA, where the Dennys showed us EURASIAN 
COLLARED-DOVES, and Iowa Beef site west of Walla Walla (shorebirds).  We 
visited Hat Rock St. Park, and the wildlife area below McNary dam, enjoying 
the warmth of a beautiful fall day.

Due to the keen interest in this trip, there will be a repeat next weekend 
for the overflow crowd.

Good birding, everyone,

Paul T. Sullivan
Audubon Birding Weekends
(503) 646-7889
http://www.audubonportland.org/trips_classes_camps/adult_programs/birding_weekendsfolder/index_html