[TN-Bird] Possible N. Saw-whet Owl in Montgomery County

From: "Stanley York Jr." <dmarc-noreply@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> (Redacted sender "swy911@xxxxxxxxx" for DMARC)
To: "tn-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx" <tn-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Sun, 12 Oct 2014 08:05:55 -0700

October 11, 2014
Montgomery County, TN
7:20pm

Last night the 11th at about 7:20pm a possible Saw-whet was heard giving it's 
piercing alarm call at a friend's house of mine in southwest Montgomery county. 
 The call was actually heard by my non-birder friend.  I had just stepped back 
inside to check out the Cardinals/Giants score when he came running in and said 
"Saw-whet" which prompted me to grab a flashlight, jump over his wife folding 
clothes and navigate between a 1 and 4 year old before I busted through the 
backdoor!  I never could locate the possible owl but we have heard other 
possible Saw-whets at his house in years past.  He has good owl habitat around 
his house with open fields and mixed woods with Loblolly pines.  

Anyone with Saw-whet experience comments requested.  Last fall/winter 2013-2014 
I did not hear any possible Saw-whets. During fall/winter 2012-2013 I heard 3 
possible birds and one of them was at this location and was also in Oct. The 
other 2 were still in Montgomery county but 1 in Nov and 1 in Dec, all single 
alarm calls.

I am hesitant calling each occurrence Saw-whets because I have not been able to 
locate an owl after hearing the calls but I don't know what else it could be. 
Do other owls have vocalizations similar to the skiew-shrill like alarm call 
that I may be confusing it with?  Do they typically fly away after giving their 
alarm call? Again comments and feedback appreciated.

Stanley York
Palmyra/Montgomery County

[TN-Bird] Possible N. Saw-whet Owl in Montgomery County

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