To whit, to whoo

[UncleEbenezer]

As I lie in my bed, I can hear both the male and female tawny owl outside my window. I think they may be calling to each other. She is very nearby, in one of the trees by the river, or maybe even sitting in our stonework, while he is just a little further, but also closer than I'm accustomed to.

Not the birds I'd most expect here, but they're welcome to as many rats as they can take.

[colin]

Rather more relaxing than listening to a barn owl screeching. Perhaps you have somewhere high to install an owl box?

[bungeejumper]

Sounds absolutely wonderful. Out here in the Wiltshire sticks, our townie visitors get very upset by the sound of the owls calling to each other in the deep silence of the night. They've been watching too many horror films, I suspect.

Mind you, it's the little owls you've got to watch out for around these parts. The only owls that regularly hunt by day, and they sound like squeaky toys until they decide to attack. I've sometimes seen them taking a pigeon on the wing. Not nice, the pigeon is a big strong bird and it doesn't die easily. But you have to give the little buggers credit for being up for a challenge!

BJ

[bungeejumper]

O/T, but I've only just managed to identify a bird call that I've been hearing recently. A rising tone that goes "ooooooo-ah-wippp". I couldn't figure it out at all, until I saw that our local raven has a mate. The male raven sounds like a flying pig, with a snuffle and a grunt that would make anybody look skywards. But his lady love seems to be made of more refined stuff. Nice to see them around. Just don't tell our easily-spooked visitors.

BJ