I just had the most wonderful visitor.

[littlemissmartypants]

A Barred Owl! I identified it by its hoot. It was just hanging out on the rail on the back deck looking huge! What a lovely treat!

https://abcbirds.org/bird/barred-owl/

Dark-eyed, with a scaled breast and striped belly, the Barred Owl is nearly as large as the Great Horned Owl but with different markings and no ear-tufts.

You can listen to a sample of the hoot here:

I'm so glad I was able to see and hear it! What a wonderful thing!

http://www.xeno-canto.org/433223

❤️

[Karadeniz]

1. That's a real treat !!!

[niyad]

2. How wonderful. Thank you for sharing. What a great image.

[Hermit-The-Prog]

3. That's a scout. You're about to be invaded by hordes.

Wish I could catch a glimpse of the crazy-sounding owls around here. I'm jealous.

[littlemissmartypants]

6. You might be right. Either s/he's back this morning or...

There's another one. I can't see anything but I think I might have a call and response thing going on. I keep hearing what sounds like one call close then one further away. Loud enough that I'm awake now.

I found out that they claim abandoned squirrel nests so I need to start checking out my trees. I know that the squirrels nest in the oaks and populars. I've got a half dozen of those trees all together.

I hope I can get back to sleep.

[hermetic]

4. Oh nice

Keep a camera at the ready in case Hermit- is right. Imagine, a yard full of owls.

[AllaN01Bear]

5. who cooks for u all?