I was surprised…

On my Sunday afternoon walk in the park, Momma Owl and one fluffy owlet were sitting up in plain sight in their nest. I was told there is a second owlet, but apparently it was in hiding. The curly haired little owlet can easily be seen in two of the pictures, but then Momma, likely restless from sitting so long in her tree top cavity, decided to change her position. The third picture gives a good idea of how big she is.  (Click on any picture for a larger version).

Although the website I checked said a mature Great Horned Owl is similar to a crow or goose and slightly larger than a red-tailed hawk, she looks really chubby, even bigger than I expected. The nest must be at least 20 feet above ground, although I am no judge of heights, so that could be wrong. Momma cannot move her eyes from side to side, but all Great Horned Owls can swivel their heads more than 180 degrees so they can look in any direction. This little family is exciting to see and  for weeks has attracted lots of attention from all the bird watchers and photo fanatics in the park. They must wonder at the crowds gathered at the base of their tree, aiming cameras at them from sunup to sundown.

Our weather was cold yesterday and again today (in the 30s), but we are expecting a warm up later in the week. With the warmer temperatures, rain and overcast skies are predicted, but I hope to get a few more portraits of the owl family this week. Cross your fingers for more sunshine please!

Thanks for stopping for a visit today.
Trail Walker