The air was Crisp and still; our small peagle and I walked behind the house as I let her out. Daylight was an hour away with very little light showing through the woods. It was a normal morning routine before leaving for my teaching job. The dog ran back and forth at the end of her long leash. I stopped and waited, as I had many mornings and evenings to allow her to run along the pines that lined the back yard.
This morning would be a bit different.
I stood waiting and looking into the dark shadows of the tree line in front of me. I love these woods, my solace, my refuge. Our dog loves them as much as I do. She loves going out and tracking the smells of the many animals that roam our family woods. Winter mornings like this are beautiful in their own way.
The still morning silence was broken as a sound I’d never heard before cut through the silent morning air. It started low but rose louder. A high-pitched whine sounded like a siren starting to go off. It grew louder lasting several seconds. Then it grew lower and was followed by several high-pitched short bursts of sound. The last burst ended with a trailing off of a near growl at the end.
I remembered my brother hearing the scream of a lynx on our family farm when we were young, and I wondered whether I was hearing this rare North American cat in the woods and swamp behind the home. I had to check a bit on the internet to be sure, but I now know that this is what I had heard. I felt very blessed, as I drove to work to be able to hear this unique and rare mating call in the early wintery morning.
To hear the short burst I heard here is a video I found on Youtube with an exact match.
Just remember to hear the sounds of nature or experience the great things nature can give you have to get out there.
Enjoy the Journey,
Dan Shipton
Shippy Woods 
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