I received an email from a visitor reporting a Great Gray Owl on the
Parkway near Waynesboro. Here's part of his email.
On March 19, around 6:30AM, on the Blue Ridge Parkway just south of the
Humpback Rocks Trailhead, my girlfriend and I spotted a Great Gray Owl
perched on a branch beside the road. From inside our car, parked
approximately 35 feet from the owl, we spent a good 5 minutes checking each
other out before it flew off. The white "mustache" was clearly visible
differentiating it from a barred owl (one of which we saw 10 minutes
farther along our drive). Have other Great Gray Owl's been sited there this
year? I'm wondering if it could be an irruption year.
I realize that it is unlikely that this bird would be down here but
wondered what others thought of this report and if there had been any other
sightings in the past. I'd sure hate to not let people know about this if
it is true. Has anyone ever reported a great gray owl in VA before?
I'm emailing the person back to try to get them to provide more details.
Thanks for any information and help.
Bob
___________________________________
Bob Cherry
Resource Management Specialist
Blue Ridge Parkway
5580 Shulls Mill Road
Blowing Rock, NC 28605-9453
828/295-7591
828/295-0337 (fax)
Bob_Cherry@xxxxxxx
www.nps.gov/blri
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