Ah, I can't take credit for that! One of the local birders had been hearing it call and spent time searching the area for droppings. He and his wife found it in a spruce tree during one of their outings. However, we have also heard saw-whets on our property, so I keep hoping I will find one! Thanks for the compliments.

I heard it again this morning, so I got my binocs and tried to find it. It was very elusive. It was at the top of one of the black walnuts. Just could never see it. I don't think its an owl, or I probably would have been able to see it. I have gone through every bird song on my Audubon CD, and I just can't find the sound. It sounds like the first note that the bobwhite sings, but its continuous and starts out fast and slows down. Its a very musical tone (but monotone). Bobwhites don't get high in trees do they? gosh this is driving me crazy!

How wonderful to have seen it! I think birds know when your camera is missing

ok, i have waited this long because i couldn't narrow it down. my first love at a raptor dates back to kindergarten- the bald eagle. actually it is pretty "ironic": i can remember asking my mom for a quarter to "help save the bald eagles" i don't know if it was the teacher, or if it was the school, but i remember i needed to take it to class. so, here i was 30 years later, fighting development of plum island as a preserve for their winter and nesting sight. i am proof that educating children and raising their awareness works! now, on the other extreme, i just love the kestrel. this is strange for me because i am a "bigger the better" kind of person- irish wolfhound definitely preferred over a small dg, give me a horse- make it a "heavy horse" there is just something about the spirit of the bird being bigger than its size. i really think they have taht warrior spirit despite that apparant fragility i have heard of when kept captive. although i have never had experience with them. owl are just too tough to decide between. again, the raptors seem to win me over despite size- oh, that screech owl's song! a am partial to barn owls simply because ot the endangered/threatened status. i have never seen one! the great horned does win over the barred, but that doesn't make the barred any less "endearing." i do like the turkey vulture, too. so that about sums it up (love red tails in flight calls, they are always saying something) i ahven't gone in to many species. mostly i am trying to stick to the ones of my area. but, the harpy eagle, now there is a magnificent bird! anyone see jeff corwin with the harpy on his arm? it kept pecking his head. i say pecking because with that kind of strenght it was more like a love tap!