I was walking the path along the Ashley River at Magnolia Plantation and Gardens and there he was, on broken limb directly over the path.

Based on the fuzzy look around his head this is likely one of this year’s owlets.

I passed underneath him and got a nice view looking back as he worked on some personal grooming.

A wider view shows how easy it would have been to miss him amid the dangling Spanish Moss and how closely his color and pattern match the tree limb.

Magnolia Plantation & Gardens, Charleston, SC
July 11, 2025

I spotted the Barred Owl owlet on a low hanging branch over the water. He was making that pitiful crying noise that I interpret as “momma, I’m hungry.” One of the parents was nearby, not seeming to pay much attention and finally junior flew down closer to the pond, landing on a cypress knee.

A few minutes later he flew a few more feet to the edge of the pond.

The light was very low under the trees so I couldn’t really tell what he was doing. He then flew up to a lovely perch closer to me.

Turns out he did have a crayfish that he’d found in the mud. He then spent at least ten minutes holding it, turning it…like he was wondering what to do with it.

The adult moved a couple of times while the owlet was working this out, getting further away and actually turned away once junior started to hunt.

Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, Charleston, SC
June 19, 2024