I found this western screech owl the other evening thanks to the help of a friend. I saw a robin on the path foraging on all of the small, green caterpillars that have been repelling from the trees this week. As it was darting back and forth across the trail, it was giving its vocalization that signals possible danger or disturbance. It makes a series of calls that sound like tuk tuk tuk tuk. After a couple of minutes it flew up to a tree branch and made a few more alarm calls and flew away. As I stood there surveying the landscape for about 5 minutes the robin returned. Again, it began to forage, but still vocalizing its agitation. I began to wonder if the demands of parenting had started to frazzle my friend and/or maybe she wanted me to move on. Once again, she flew up to a tree branch nearby, alarmed and flew off down the path. A few minutes later as I looked around I was gifted the beauty of seeing this magnificent little creature sitting at the entrance of a tree cavity. Its coloration and feather pattern resemble the bark of trees which allows it to blend in excellently with its surroundings.
Western Screech-Owls are carnivores that mostly eat small mammals. Their diet also includes birds, fish, amphibians, and invertebrates. They are nocturnal and usually leave their roost to forage around sunset and return a little before sunrise.
Western Screech Owl (Megascops kennicottii)
Click the link below to All About Birds to hear their vocalizations:
https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Western_Screech-Owl/sounds