Owl Call

gaz2195 · #1 (**permalink**) 08-03-2010, 12:16 PM

Hi,

Can anyone I.D an owl call that I have been hearing first thing in a morning recently, fairly close to where I live.

It sounds kind of like "Hoo Hoooo Hoo", which it then repeats.

If it helps.....Our house backs onto a golf course and that seems to be the general direction the call is coming from. Around the front of the house though there is a busy main road and its very close to a retail park so not exactly rural.

Sorry for requesting what is probably a very basic I.D for an experienced birder.......and also for my interpretation of what it sounds like

Thanks

Gaz

Rob_Williamson · #2 (**permalink**) 08-03-2010, 12:36 PM

sounds like Tawny Owl to me.

solus · #3 (**permalink**) 08-03-2010, 01:15 PM

I'd go for Tawny Owl too - golf courses tend to cover a fair amount of ground and have lots of mature trees so that's probably where the bird is.

RoyW · #4 (**permalink**) 08-03-2010, 06:13 PM

Your description sounds very good for Tawny Owl. Try listening to recordings to confirm (if you do a search for 'RSPB Tawny Owl' you will find a recording on the RSPB website page for that species).

Wild-Woman · #5 (**permalink**) 08-03-2010, 06:25 PM

Classic Tawny.

Naturenutz · #6 (**permalink**) 08-03-2010, 09:59 PM

yep a male tawny,the females have a different note.

Tracey.A · #7 (**permalink**) 08-03-2010, 11:08 PM

Yep, Tawny owl

Love these birds! I was lucky enough to get very close to one of these birds at my local reserve. They are just the most beautiful of birds when seen up close. A moment I will never forget

Tracey

Cowgirl · #8 (**permalink**) 09-03-2010, 11:58 AM

Agree Tawny. One used to park itself in a tree right outside my bedroom window & call for hours. Seriously tested my love of wildlife!

I once picked one up from the middle of the road where I think a car must have hit it. Threw my fleece over it, put it in the passenger foot-well & drove to the vets. Never forgotten how huge it's eyes were when it shook off my fleece & just sat there staring up at me. The vet was willing to give it a go but unfortunately its wing was broken badly just on the joint & it was kindest to put it to sleep, as it would never regain the use of it poor thing. Very sad, but better than slowly starving to death or death by car or fox. Can't believe how many cars drove past it before I stopped though. It was trailing a wing & flapping. I could never leave something suffering at the side of the road.