Date:         Tue, 12 Oct 2004 21:23:54 -0400
Reply-To:     Neal Cronic <NealC@KNOLOGY.NET>
Sender:       Georgia Birders Online <GABO-L@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
From:         Neal Cronic <NealC@KNOLOGY.NET>
Subject:      Great Horned Owl Encounter - Ft. Benning
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

Started birding today a little late at around 6:20 p.m. The sky was overcast
and the clouds were intermittent causing the diminishing available descent
light to fade in and out. Red Bellied Woodpeckers were very vocal along with
a pair of immature Red Headed Woodpeckers. Got good looks at The Halloween
Bird - Black Male American Redstart flashing his true orange attire. Then I
got a glimpse at a Magnolia Warbler along with a Northern Waterthrush. It
was at about this time another round of large dark clouds scurried overhead.
I had been hearing an owl Hoot on and off again while I had been birding.
Realizing that it might be a while until descent light appeared again... if
at all - I entertained myself vocalizing with the owl. After several rounds
of calling I gave up and started walking back towards the car. I
instinctively turned around in hopes of seeing the Owl and saw a massive
bird flapping its wings preparing to perch atop a large Pine tree. I got the
bird in focus from about 20 yards and there before me was not one but 2
Great Horned Owls!! They were Hooting to each other in the top of this
tree!! I actually got to see the face of a Great Horned Owl for several
minutes....He looked like a Big Cat! Birding after work while being
irritated with poor lighting conditions - barely tolerable....Seeing the
face of a Great Horned Owl... to me....is Awesome!!
Whew!



Neal Cronic
Columbus Ga

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