Not to be a downer, but if he heard it, it's almost certainly not a snowy
owl as they are essentially silent away from the breeding grounds.
I'm guessing he saw a common owl or another species (other raptor, like
red-tail) that was pale colored and vocal and he immediately thought snowy
owl. We've had a couple potential snowy owls reported in Colorado
recently, all supported with photos of great horned.
Scott Somershoe
Littleton CO
On Fri, Dec 20, 2019 at 1:41 PM ziply <ziply123@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
I agree completely, but he said he both heard it and saw it (and at least
in my 'hood, barn owls aren't so often out and about in daytime). I cannot
vouch for the accuracy of his sighting, but I didn't want to let this
potential sighting go without notice to area birders. I hope to talk to him
in more detail Sunday.
Liz Singley
Kingston, TN
On Thu, Dec 19, 2019, 10:12 PM <oeserscave@xxxxxxx> wrote:
Let's hope so, but a yard is an odd place for a Snowy Owl. Could it have
been a Barn Owl, which is very light colored? A coworker once told me he
had seen a Snowy Owl on Vanderbilt's campus in Nashville, but it was more
likely a Barn Owl in such a setting with all the trees. Hopefully your
friend will see the owl again and get a photo or more looks to confirm.
Ken Oeser
-----Original Message-----
From: ziply <ziply123@xxxxxxxxx>
To: tn-bird <tn-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Thu, Dec 19, 2019 8:32 pm
Subject: [TN-Bird] Immature Snowy owl, Kingston (Roane Co.) suburb?
A friend just posted on Facebook that he had a Snowy owl in his yard this
morning and that just as he ID'ed it, it flew away. He lives 1.5 to 2 miles
NE of I-40 exit 355 (Lawnville Rd).
Liz Singley
Kingston TN (South'a river)
