[TN-Bird] It was a dark, stormy night...

Well, it was a bit rainy with a bit of wind.  But more importantly,
it was the first fairly warm, wet night of the year.  That means
amphibians!  Well, I didn't have time to go look for Spotted
Salamanders, but I knew that the road would have Wood Frogs, and Wood
Frogs mean hungry Barred Owls...

So on my way home from Tremont (Great Smoky Mountains National Park,
Blount County) at 9pm on Tuesday night, I drove slow.  I had a hard
time trying to decide: look up, for the owls, or down for the
amphibians.  Both!  I did see at least 3 living Wood Frogs.  I got
nearly to the end of Tremont road (and thus traffic, meaning no more
5 MPH) when I saw a flash of wings.  Thinking it was an Eastern
Screech-owl, I backed up and angled my headlights at it.

It was a NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL!  My first in about 2 years.  And not
100 yards away from where I saw one in 2001, at about the same time
of year.  Alas, I didn't have my camera with me, but I watched it for
about 5 minutes before deciding to leave it alone.  Number 76 in
Blount County for 2006, and the 2nd species missed in 2005 which I've
now seen.

My guess is that this bird will hang around there for at least a few
nights.  Please remember that you cannot use tape lures or spotlights
in the park without a permit.

Charlie

*******************************************************************
Charlie Muise, Naturalist near
Great Smoky Mountains National Park

"To the dull mind all nature is leaden.  To the illuminated mind 
the whole world sparkles with light."  - Ralph Waldo Emerson

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