Thanksgiving Owl

[Curmudgeon]

My bird feeder doesn't just feed finches and chickadees. Sometimes it feed sharp-shinned and cooper's hawks, goshawks too. This morning I flushed a barred owl out from under it. It was probably grabbing mice. It landed in a tree where I took a couple of photos through a dirty window with my scope and point and shoot camera.

Last week there was a screech owl sitting in the sun in the opening of the barn owl nest box. We never did get any barn owls. It has been a good owl year here. Besides these species, we have had great-horned and saw-whet owls this fall.

My photography cannot compare to some others on this forum but here are shots of the recent birds.The barred is first, screech second.

[Pygmy]

Nice shots Curmudgeon...

I like ALL birds of prey, but owls are special.. I have been fortunate enough to see a couple of great greys on my Alaska hunts..

[grampy]

Being part Native American, owls are held in great respect as a spirit bird, in Native culture. As a boy, I was told stories of the owl spirit birds, from my grandmother, great grandfather and great uncles, who were all full bloods.