Barred Owl

This post is for my grandchildren Eli and Tess, who love Owls!
I can count the times on one hand when I have seen an owl.  But yesterday, "Oh Happy Day" we were driving along a woods road and just at the wood's edge sitting on a lower branch of a Birch tree was an Owl!  First I thought I had seen a hawk and I asked my husband to stop and back up our truck.  I took a few pictures from the truck window and then we got out and walked closer to the location.  When we were closer we suspected we were looking at an Owl!  Wow!! How exciting a  find this was!

It was definitely an owl face looking at us!! We had to wait until we were at home to access our bird guide book to id the owl. And the striped breast easily helped us id it as a barred owl! I have a few more pictures to share. I thought  the woodland setting was very beautiful.  As the owl was perched low in the birch it was probably watching for its mail meal of rodents.  We could see small birds flitting around in front of the owl but it seemed to take no notice of them.

 

Each day is so exciting at this time of year.  I think I caught a glimse of a handsome male bright red Cardinal outside our window this morning in Bird Alley.  We have not seen a Cardinal here all winter long.  Have a great day everyone!