Observations
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Number observed: 2
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Number observed: 2
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Number observed: 1
Details: Heard singing for a long time, off and on for at least 20 minutes, from the rocky hillside above the cattle guard. We were able to see the bird's eyeshine. Audio recorded:
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Number observed: 1
Details: This bird was heard singing in several "bouts" over the course of several hours, and because we first heard it from our campsite at site 5 and we later heard it while walking along Proctor Road, we were able to both triangulate a bit to get a good idea of the location, and were able to confirm that the song wasn't coming from another birder's broadcast. We first heard it from our camp within a half hour or so of sunset, a short series of 6-10 single toots. The voice itself sounded generally similar to the Western Screech-Owls that call regularly in my yard, but in several hours of listening, the notes never accelerated in the "bouncy-ball" fashion of WESO; they were always given in a steady series at the same frequency. The notes usually decreased in volume (but not time) towards the last one or two toots. We never heard the "Morse Code" version of their song. Although the bird moved around a bit while we listened, all the calls seemed to be emanating from the gully of Madera Creek where it runs parallel to Proctor Road. This is not where we expected to hear this species, either, due to its low elevation and relatively open canopy, but is more likely habitat than the open mesquite and other dry shrubs around Proctor Road. There have been several other reports of this species from this location earlier this month.
Details: Flushed well after dark from nocturnal roost.