05/10/25 at 4:24am
  Tarheel Trailblazers Message Board › Mixed Bag › General Board › Great Horned Owl @ USNWC Thread/Figure 8
‹ Previous Topic | Next Topic ›
Page Index Toggle Pages: 1 Print
Hot Topic (More than 10 Replies) Great Horned Owl @ USNWC Thread/Figure 8 (Read 2713 times)
DSO
Coaster Bike
**
Offline


Work Ride Tarheel Trailblazers

Posts: 67
Location: Indian Land, SC
Joined: 11/24/15
Great Horned Owl @ USNWC Thread/Figure 8
07/14/20 at 8:11pm
Print Post  
Last night (dusk) I saw the great horned owl that lives in the Thread/Figure 8 section. I've seen him 3-4 times over the years, but last night I got good close look at him. Anyone else see this guy while riding that section? When he's in flight you can't help but notice him. His wingspan is impressive!

When you're coming from Thread/Tortuga approaching Figure 8, he hangs out in that section between the service road crossing and the water/inlet.
« Last Edit: 07/14/20 at 8:19pm by DSO »  
Back to top
 
IP Logged
 
SurlyDave
Small Cog
***
Offline


Work Ride Tarheel Trailblazers

Posts: 326
Location: Indian Trail
Joined: 09/03/12
Re: Great Horned Owl @ USNWC Thread/Figure 8
Reply #1 - 07/15/20 at 2:49am
Print Post  
Owls are very cool.  I haven't seen your guy but there was a few regular Great Horned around Beatty back in the day.  When I was a kid we had woods on both sides of the street and in the Summer the owls would talk over my house and ask each other WHO, WHO, ARE YOUUU?  Cool
  
Back to top
 
IP Logged
 
NC Kingsting
Small Cog
***
Offline


Veni Vidi Vici

Posts: 279
Joined: 06/04/16
Re: Great Horned Owl @ USNWC Thread/Figure 8
Reply #2 - 07/15/20 at 2:34pm
Print Post  
Saw a really large owl at Sherman last week.  Scared him while he was on the ground and he got me back a bit further down the trail with a pretty solid straifing run. Looked like a small Labrador in the sky. 😳
  
Back to top
 
IP Logged
 
Robert C.
Big Ring
*****
Offline


Leaves are the ultimate
trail maintenance tool

Posts: 1806
Location: Available upon request
Joined: 11/22/04
Re: Great Horned Owl @ USNWC Thread/Figure 8
Reply #3 - 07/15/20 at 5:03pm
Print Post  
Lots of owls at BDP
  
Back to top
 
IP Logged
 
Steck
Newbie
*
Offline



Posts: 25
Joined: 01/16/07
Re: Great Horned Owl @ USNWC Thread/Figure 8
Reply #4 - 07/15/20 at 5:42pm
Print Post  
I hear and occasionally see owls on Tributary, listening to them communicate back and forth is pretty cool.  I'll keep an ear/eye out for the one on Thread too.
  
Back to top
 
IP Logged
 
Shredder
Big Ring
*****
Offline



Posts: 2077
Joined: 01/12/05
Re: Great Horned Owl @ USNWC Thread/Figure 8
Reply #5 - 07/15/20 at 6:53pm
Print Post  
I noticed the other day what looks like a bald eagle perched in a nest on top of one of the electric towers in the parking lot. It's near the middle, maybe a bit closer to the entrance side. I didn't have binoculars, but it appeared to have a white head and a curved beak like an eagle. Anyone know anything about it?
  
Back to top
 
IP Logged
 
DirtDan
Coaster Bike
**
Offline


Work Ride Tarheel Trailblazers

Posts: 95
Location: Charlotte
Joined: 07/23/13
Re: Great Horned Owl @ USNWC Thread/Figure 8
Reply #6 - 07/15/20 at 8:33pm
Print Post  
Raptors are super cool, IMO.  Love going to the Raptor Center to see them.

I've been told that the raptors in the WWC parking lot power line/cell tower are ospreys.

I've been buzzed by the owl at Sherman's a couple times and seen him up close a number of other times.  I usually see him along the Main Loop on the left side (as you're looking at the trees from the parking lot).  He's a Barred Owl.  There a couple where I live that like to hoot back and forth to each other at night.  They are a "hoot" to listen to at night.  Roll Eyes  Also have a pair of Cooper's Hawks in our neighborhood.  One left a nice big feather in our back yard, which my toddler daughter claimed as a "magic feather" and cherishes. 

Also been buzzed by an owl on a Trailblazers group night ride a few years back at North Meck.

I'll have to keep my eyes open for the Great Horned Owl along those trails at the WWC.  Haven't seen one of those in the wild in a long time, but would love to.
« Last Edit: 07/15/20 at 8:35pm by DirtDan »  
Back to top
 
IP Logged
 
msedly
Small Cog
***
Offline


Work Ride Tarheel Trailblazers

Posts: 414
Location: Dallas, NC
Joined: 09/19/09
Re: Great Horned Owl @ USNWC Thread/Figure 8
Reply #7 - 07/15/20 at 8:47pm
Print Post  
I haven't seen the one on Figure 8 but I have been buzzed by one down by the creek on Carpet Trail before the carpet climb multiple times.  Saw him a handful of times in a short period a few years back, but haven't seen him since.
  
Back to top
 
IP Logged
 
StevenA
Coaster Bike
**
Offline



Posts: 162
Joined: 06/28/16
Re: Great Horned Owl @ USNWC Thread/Figure 8
Reply #8 - 07/15/20 at 11:54pm
Print Post  
Let's add Fisher Farm to the owl listing.  I used to see one hanging out in the trees near the start of Old Blue but I haven't seen him/her lately. 

NC Kingsting wrote on 07/15/20 at 2:34pm:
Saw a really large owl at Sherman last week.


I wonder if it's this one I spotted on the main trail at Sherman 2 years ago.  This was about as good of a picture as I could get before s/he took off.

(You need to Login or Register to view media files and links)

  
I used to be addicted to the Hokey Pokey but then I turned myself around.
Back to top
 
IP Logged
 
DSO
Coaster Bike
**
Offline


Work Ride Tarheel Trailblazers

Posts: 67
Location: Indian Land, SC
Joined: 11/24/15
Re: Great Horned Owl @ USNWC Thread/Figure 8
Reply #9 - 07/15/20 at 11:58pm
Print Post  
(You need to Login or Register to view media files and links)

This is the area
  
Back to top
 
IP Logged
 
Robert C.
Big Ring
*****
Offline


Leaves are the ultimate
trail maintenance tool

Posts: 1806
Location: Available upon request
Joined: 11/22/04
Re: Great Horned Owl @ USNWC Thread/Figure 8
Reply #10 - 07/16/20 at 12:02pm
Print Post  
Shredder wrote on 07/15/20 at 6:53pm:
I noticed the other day what looks like a bald eagle perched in a nest on top of one of the electric towers in the parking lot. It's near the middle, maybe a bit closer to the entrance side. I didn't have binoculars, but it appeared to have a white head and a curved beak like an eagle. Anyone know anything about it?



If it's the tower with the cellular antenna it's an Osprey.  There was a pair of bald eagle on a tower closer to Green late last year.
  
Back to top
 
IP Logged
 
pagan696
Small Cog
***
Offline


Pedal to the Meddle

Posts: 277
Location: Dallas, NC
Joined: 04/25/08
Re: Great Horned Owl @ USNWC Thread/Figure 8
Reply #11 - 08/24/20 at 10:37pm
Print Post  
msedly wrote on 07/15/20 at 8:47pm:
I haven't seen the one on Figure 8 but I have been buzzed by one down by the creek on Carpet Trail before the carpet climb multiple times.  Saw him a handful of times in a short period a few years back, but haven't seen him since.


same here, I saw one regularly at Carpet just before the tight creek crossing a few years ago. also had one jump out as I entered Main at end of Goat as you get near rivers edge. pretty neat encounters while on the trails.
  
Back to top
 
IP Logged
 
Metalmok
Coaster Bike
**
Offline


I would rather ride than
work

Posts: 111
Location: Mint Hill, NC
Joined: 02/22/10
Re: Great Horned Owl @ USNWC Thread/Figure 8
Reply #12 - 08/28/20 at 12:35pm
Print Post  
I had an owl drop out of a tree and kill something right next to me on the trail at Sherman this morning. Scared the crap out of me
  
Please consider the environment before you...



...play your Bluetooth speaker in the woods.
Back to top
 
IP Logged
 
Page Index Toggle Pages: 1
Print
‹ Previous Topic | Next Topic ›
 
  « Board Index ‹ Board Top  

Tarheel Trailblazers Message Board » Powered by YaBB 2.6.12!
YaBB Forum Software © 2000-2025. All Rights Reserved.