Good morning Bob,

I heard it.

I had never been down in that area, so I guess I've got the terminology 
for the
terrain a little off. I traveled west on River Road 2.8 miles out of Seneca.
(Can anyone tell I'm following Claudia Wilds?) I turned left onto Hunting
Whatever Road (her book is in the car). Immediately on the left is a small
parking area. Park there and go down the access road past the yellow
barrier. There are two streams, the first is right away, the second is some
distance.  There is a mound of dirt in the woods to the left to help with
your crossing. I heard the owl just as I had crossed the second stream.
Both streams were open and running.

At first I didn't know what it was, but I remembered Jim Stasz  describing
their call/cry. I have the handy little iPod my husband loaded with mp3s of
all the bird songs and calls in my pack so I was able to verify it right 
there.

Further on after the large field, the marshes are frozen and you can cross.
I would recommend crossing quickly (survival technique). The less time the
ice has to hold your body weight in one place the less chance you'll end up
in marsh to your knees. The place was alive with woodpeckers. They seemed
to be on every branch.

Just for clarification. . .should I post info on owls? Or should I call 
leaders such as
yourself and let determinations be made by those much more experienced 
than I?
What is the protocol?

Blessings
Gayle

-- 
~
Rev. Gayle Bach-Watson, UCC
4405 Molesworth Terrace,
Mt. Airy, Maryland  USA

Home: 301-831-3874
Cell: 301-367-9306

If I keep a green bough in my heart, 
the singing bird will come.
Chinese Proverb

A bird does not sing because it has an answer. 
It sings because it has a song.
Chinese Proverb


Bob Ringler wrote:

>Gayle,
>   For the record, was your Saw-whet Owl seen or heard?  Thank you.
>
>Bob Ringler
>Eldersburg MD
>
> 
>---- Bach-Watson Associates <> wrote: 
>  
>
>>Hughes Hollow on Friday 21 Jan 05
>>Crystal blue skies, not a hint of what was to come.
>>much of the marsh was frozen solid
>>
>>I walked all the way in to the back field - incredibly lovely
>>
>>The very first birds I saw - 5 American Robins
>>
>>Northern Cardinal
>>Tufted Titmouse
>>Whiter-Throated Sparrow
>>Turkey Vulture
>>Carolina Chickadee
>>Downy Woodpecker
>>Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker
>>Pileated Woodpecker
>>Yellow-Rumped Warbler
>>Carolina Wren
>>American Crow
>>Field Sparrow
>>Swamp Sparrow
>>Red Shouldered Hawk
>>White-Breasted Nuthatch
>>Saw-Whet Owl
>>
>>As I came back out to the road the last group of birds
>>was a flock of 20 -25 Eastern Bluebirds swooping
>>and playing over the road.
>>
>>Blessings
>>Gayle
>>
>>~
>>Rev. Gayle Bach-Watson, UCC
>>4405 Molesworth Terrace,
>>Mt. Airy, Maryland  USA
>>
>>Home: 301-831-3874
>>Cell: 301-367-9306
>>
>>If I keep a green bough in my heart, 
>>the singing bird will come.
>>Chinese Proverb
>>
>>A bird does not sing because it has an answer. 
>>It sings because it has a song.
>>Chinese Proverb
>>    
>>
>
>  
>