My first encounter with a baby barred owl. Although he’s almost grown up, he still has a little fuzz. This bird just stole my heart. I had been at Lettuce Lake park for almost two hours and was walking back to the parking area when a very nice guy just said “Hey, I just saw an owl fly into that tree right there.” I had looked everywhere in that area when I first got there looking for the owls and didn’t find them. I walked down the path and at first I saw the parent that had just flown in. I was watching it for a few minutes when I noticed a few trees over was the baby. Looking right at me. He was a little ways into the woods so these are all cropped up.
I thought he was curious about something on the tree. He hunched down getting closer to the branch.
He then closed his eyes and took a short nap right there. I walked around the area for a while. I saw a hummingbird go by me and looked around for a long time trying to find it. It went deeper in the woods so I lost it.
I came back over to the napping owl and he was just waking up. A loud hawk flew overhead and he looked up to see it.
Then he was fully awake.
I don’t know if this was a sneeze or the end of a yawn but he made a funny face.
He started investigating around the branch.
He was probably thinking “What are these big yellow things?”
“Hey, I can hold something with these big yellow things.” It looked like he was eating a leaf.
The parent was a few trees down keeping an eye on things. I finally left an hour later than I should have but what a great way to spend that hour.
What started out as a boring birding trip ended up being one of the best times I’ve had in a while. Watching that cute baby owl was the highlight of the trip. As I stood on the trail watching the owl deep in the woods, people were walking by heading to the canoe launch. Everyone would ask me what I was looking at. I would show them the owl up in the tree. A few people got really excited. A handful said “Yeh, I see owls here all the time.” It’s funny how different people react to birds.
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so very cute!
HI Dina What a wonderful encounter adn you have great shots as a memory to a wonderful find. Margaret
Absolutely fabulous shots, Dina. I’d have happily spent that hour there with you. What a sweet face, and the curiosity, the nap and the sneeze…wonderful!
K
Those were great shots Dina, how long a lens did you use to capture this?
What wonderful shots of this adorable baby!
It is amazing that so many people can walk by and not really see what is around them. It has happened to me on several occasions, and co-incidentally, when I saw some owls. too.
Beautiful shots ot that cutie, too. 🙂
Great experience, Dina! I would feel the same as you! Very cool sighting and wonderful photos.
What a find! And how lucky to be able to observe him for so long. Your photos are great.
What a delightful experience. How could anyone not fall in love with those gorgeous eyes.
oh boy Gunilla; did you get lucky or what?! These are the most wonderful photographs to treasure; what a beautiful young owl it is.
Oh Gosh, he is so cute…
oh… it is very nice
Wow! these are wonderful shots! I often here an owl near my house, but I’ve never been able to find it. This must have been a fun outing!
These are beautiful… how lucky you are to get them
mollyxxx
I would be jumping up and down to see any owl in daylight let alone this super cute owlet. Wonderful record of your encounter.
A wonderful and magical hour spent in the company of a lovely Owl. Superb images.
I really like the way it had that little sleep right there on the branch. From Findlay
Wow!!! Great captures!!!
what a brilliant encounter, and what a thrill to watch so closely this wonderful bird, inquisitive or what! Great post
Fantastic captures Dina! How lucky you are to see it!
Gorgeous!
http://grtbluheron.blogspot.com/
What a treat for all of us … and yes, you are right, it is amazing how different people react (or don’t react) to birds. A baby Owl though … I would have thought everyone would have been excited. It is rare to see baby owls, especially Barred Owls since they normally hang out in the deepes parts of the woods. These pictures are a delight … thank you so much for sharing.
Andrea @ From The Sol
WoW, amazing close ups, so much detail!! such an exciting sighting!!
He is just beyond precious….beautiful captures♥
Oh my, this little one is just adorable!!! I love how it just went to sleep on the branch!
What a nice blog you have!
And the owl is gordius.
Very nice picture.