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Message: <blockquote data-quote="halftwo" data-source="post: 1706160" data-attributes="member: 45720">Tawny Owls DisputeJust after a gloomy, misty midnight a Tawny owl began to sing outside the house. He was answered shortly by another.Creeping out in black, nonetheless my quiet crunches on gravel gave me away: but owl no.1 was too intent on territorial boundaries than on me. A dual of hoots began.The other owl was very close too - but hidden behind next door's, the first was walking oak limbs right in front, very visible though. Then the challenger changed position - flying silently to an adjacent oak. The singing really became heated now. Each bird warmed up to a long hoot with a series of short 'hoo hoo hoo's slightly quieter than the main note. First one, a few seconds' pause, then the answer. Owl no.1 eventually retreated to oaks just a few yards away. Owl no.2 then took up position in the other's tree. One more set of calls - then a screech from a female nearby: not the usual "keewick" but a long screeching "keeeeeee".No.2 owl then flew back across the boundary to another tree and the dispute was settled. It seems the boundary is right by my house. Which is nice.</blockquote>