Eastern Screech-Owl: "Welcome Back"

Fancy seeing you here. What's it been 1...2 years?

(Eastern Screech-Owl - photo by Neil Barker - January 20, 2024)

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A cold winter afternoon brings a chill, yet you face the wind.

Sitting still, you soak up what little heat the Sun offers you.

Rest and sleep in preparation for tonight and tomorrow.

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I took these photos on January 20, 2024. I went for a hike in my favourite local park. The temperature was -19°C / -2.2°F in the morning so I waited until mid-afternoon for things to get warmer. By afternoon it had warmed up to -13°C / 8.6°F.

Last weekend, I had seen two people hiking off a side trail and stopping and looking up in front of several dead-standing trees. I guessed they were looking for an owl like a Barred Owl or Eastern Screech-Owl. I had made a mental note to check the area on my next hike.

I hiked from the main trail and met a Red Squirrel looking for food. I shared a few peanuts and continued on the trail. After a few minutes of looking I finally spotted this Eastern Screech-Owl. I took a few photos and quietly continued my hike.

It has been a few years since I have seen an Eastern Screech-Owl in this conservation area. I am glad to have seen one again.

My previous post on an Eastern Screech-Owl I saw in February 2022:

• Eastern Screech-Owl: "Catching some Zzz's"

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