This morning the male Barred Owl did land in a sunny spot over the pond while he was hunting and I was in a good spot. I didn’t know until later, but the female and owlet were in the trees behind me waiting for their breakfast.
Today was the first time I’d been to the swamp in a week due to the extreme heat we’ve been having. We went early and were home by noon. It was already 95 F (35 C).
The Barred Owls I’ve been watching rarely perch in a sunny spot, but its an owl after all, so you take what you can get! The sunlit trees in the background here sparkled like jewels as the owl scoped out his next snack.
The red lichen on these trees gives this scene of a perched Barred Owl a little different look.
The Barred Owl owlet has learned to fly from tree to tree, but staying balanced and using his wings once he lands is going to take some practice.
Mom was in the next tree watching as he wobbled a bit, then used both wings for balance.
Notice how big his feet and talons are!
5/21/2019, Magnolia Plantation and Gardens
This stand of Bamboo is drooping over a small pond making a perch for a Barred Owl to watch the water for food. After much waiting he dropped down and snatched a crayfish, action I did not capture.
When there is a little breeze these hollow Bamboo stalks make pleasing percussion sounds, and occasionally cause a concentrating photographer jump.
The Barred Owls I have observed spend a lot of time watching before they strike their prey.
When the time is right, the dive is very precise, and fast.
And sometimes after all that the prize is pond detritus. I didn’t see if he dropped this clump of leaves in flight or after he landed, but pretty soon he tried again.
It would be easy to walk right underneath this Barred Owl Owlet without even knowing he was there. I probably have more than a few times!
The adult that was with him for his Eating Lesson had flown off to sit over the pond, leaving the little fellow on his own.
He was somewhat covered by the pine boughs and his coloration seen from a predator above would blend in with his surroundings. When I was leaving I saw the other parent a few trees away keeping his eye on the area.
It turns out that the Barred Owls I’ve been watching have a chick. The first time I spotted him he was getting a feeding lesson from one of his parents. The adult demonstrated then passed the item, which I could not identify, to the owlet.
They were very high off the ground and many branches prevented a good view. These owls are very accustomed to people passing by. With hundreds of acres available to nest they chose a spot near a popular walking path through Magnolia Plantation and Gardens.
The tree canopy is pretty dense in the area where the Barred Owls I’ve been watching hang out. There are a few perching spots that are nicely lit in the late afternoon.
This Owl chose such a branch, showing off his powerful feet.
He didn’t move much between my taking this image and the one in my April 6th Barred Owl post, with just his facial disc angled slightly more. They were both so nice I developed a B&W version of this one.
