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Birdwatching
with Phyllis Yochem
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Tuesday, September 26, 2000
Western screech owls, a rare treat for coastal birders, observed in Big Bend
Dugout Wells’ visitor graces watchers with unusual call, then escapes into darkness
Dugout Wells is a small oasis surrounded by creosote flats in Big Bend National Park. By coincidence, an interesting sighting there was reported on the Internet a day or so before a group of local birders embarked on a birding trip to the park. A western screech owl had been observed there in the oasis, and with it were said to be two flammulated owls. The latter are tiny, sparrow-size, brown-eyed birds of the mountains, highly coveted as list enhancers. In some books they are referred to as flammulated screech owl, Scopes owl, or Mexican owl. Western screech owls, while less unusual, are still a rare treat for coastal birders.
When we conferred with leader Gene Blacklock about the possibilities of seeing these species, he was confident about the screech owl but doubtful about the flammulateds.
An after-dark expedition to Dugout Wells was arranged. As we arrived, we could see a number of cars and trucks parked around the place with lights extinguished. A group of birders huddled together in the dim moonlight motioned for us to join them and be quiet. Immediately an eerie sound arose, an owl call. I thought it was a tape but it was the real thing, a western screech owl. To people waiting with cameras, a voice said, "Are you ready?" A spotlight was briefly directed at a limb above our heads where the shadowy figure of an owl was perched. He looked at us with large eyes before the light was extinguished. He called again before launching himself on a short flight to a different limb. The careful administrator of the spotlight turned out to be Bill Lindemann, bird columnist for the Kerrville and Fredricksburg papers. He conscientiously exposed the bird to as little disruptive light as possible.
Also present was Ro Wauer, longtime chief park naturalist at Big Bend and author of many books, including "Birds of Big Bend and Vicinity." Asked what he thought of the possibility of seeing the flammulated owls, Wauer said, "I would be very surprised to find them at this altitude."
Screech owls are probably the most common owls in North America. They come in two color morphs, which have nothing to do with sex or age. Red or gray individuals may occur in the same brood. The gray morph is usual in Texas. The little owl at Big Bend appeared to be reddish-brown. Both color morphs occur in western and eastern species. These small owls have short necks and large heads with prominent ear tufts. Their yellow, forward-directed eyes are close set in large, round, black-rimmed facial disks.
The call of the western screech owl is a series of monotonous, evenly pitched notes that start slowly, then the cadence increases terminating in a whinny at the end. This is very different from the eastern screech whose call is a soft, mournful whistle that trembles into a whinny.
Returning to our motel at Lajitas along the winding, desert roads, we could see many night creatures, mostly rabbits and coyotes.
Phyllis Yochem, a Corpus Christi
resident, has studied birds of Texas since 1960.
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