Tag Archives: Owlet

Barred Owl, Camouflaged

July 15, 2025 Ellen Jennings 8 Comments

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

Raptor

Barred Owl Owlet, Breakfast Time

June 20, 2024 Ellen Jennings 6 Comments

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

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Barred Owl Owlet, Peeking Out

April 30, 2024 Ellen Jennings 6 Comments

The pair of Barred Owls at Magnolia Plantation had one chick this year and I recently spotted him completely filling the nest entryway.

He was interested in looking out into the great wide world, but he didn’t seem quite ready to fledge.

One of the parents was napping within sight of the nest.

I moved on and found out later that the owlet chick did fledge that afternoon, and has since been spotted in a nearby pine tree.

Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, Charleston, SC
April 23, 2024

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Barred Owl Owlet Pair

May 25, 2022 Ellen Jennings 2 Comments

The owlet on the right is the one from yesterday’s post. After I took that picture he joined his sibling, and that slight head turn was the closest look I got.

May 17, 2022

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Barred Owl Owlet

May 24, 2022 Ellen Jennings 1 Comment

The establish pair of Barred Owls at Magnolia Plantation had two chicks again this year and so far both have survived. They have moved from the nest area to a small pond where soon they will learn to hunt. This one was a bit more adventurous than the other while I was watching, hopping to his own branch for a look around.

May 17, 2022

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Barred Owl Parent

May 24, 2021 Ellen Jennings 2 Comments

The establish pair of Barred Owls at Magnolia Plantation had two chicks this year but it seems just one survived once they left the nest which I featured yesterday in my post Barred Owl Owlet.

This is one of the parents that was watching from 100 feet (30 Meters) away.

I got distracted from photographing while pointing out the adult, then the chick, to an interested passing couple. One of them had never seen a live owl of any kind and was extremely excited, which made my day.

May 16, 2021

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Barred Owl Owlet

May 23, 2021 Ellen Jennings 5 Comments

The establish pair of Barred Owls at Magnolia Plantation had two chicks this year but it seems just one survived once they left the nest.

I saw them peeking from the nest the first week of April so this one must be at least 8 or 9 weeks old.

Not a reliable flyer yet, he will depend on his parents for food for several more weeks when they’ll start to teach him how it’s done.

One of the parents was watching from 100 feet (30 Meters) away; the other may have been right there, too, but I didn’t see him.

May 16, 2021

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Barred Owl Owlet

May 30, 2020 Ellen Jennings 1 Comment

Way up in a pine tree this fuzzy Barred Owl Owlet was drying off after a downpour.

One of his parents was over by the bamboo pond; I did not spot the other, but don’t doubt it was nearby.

Based on previous year’s experience we’ll soon be seeing junior closer to the pond to get hunting lessons.

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Barred Owlet Camoflaged

April 27, 2019 Ellen Jennings 1 Comment

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.

Raptor

Barred Owl Owlet Eating Lesson

April 26, 2019 Ellen Jennings 1 Comment

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.