Thursday, March 15, 2012

A Surprise Visitor

DH called me at work and asked me to come home - he said we had a visitor.  Huh???  We weren't expecting anyone but he was adamant.  Home is only 3 1/2 blocks from my office and it was time to leave work anyway, so I checked my hair, lipstick, washed my hands and headed home, driving first by the front of our house to see whose car was there -- uhhh -- no car.  No car around the back of the house either. 

Here is our visitor!  A very small owl - and he's just looking back at us, occasionally clacking his beak in threats, not at all moving except for his eyes.  He's about 8 inches tall.  Hey, what's that in the upper right?  Yes, a SECOND little owl -- which surprised DH as well - he had missed the 2nd one completely.  We think they are Screech Owls.  They were not at all disturbed by our presence -- less than 6 ft. from their perch.    Feathers match the tree trunk so perfectly, the owls almost disappear.  While we were watching, one made the softest quivering, purring sound,


I've never seen one here, but occasionally in the fall, when sitting outside at dusk, we see a shadow of something swoop by - we know it's owls, but never actually see them. 

It's comforting to know there is still some wildlife in my little back yard.

23 comments:

  1. I think that is so exciting! I have never seen an owl in the "wild." So cute! I wonder if they just hatched recently. My boss used to have an owl that would come into his garage - and this is not out in the country, it was in the middle of 2 large cities.

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  2. When we lived in Florida (Jupiter) on the east coast on 5 acres in the "country" we had a owl (don't know what kind) have 3 babies in our birdhouse. The babies were there about 2 months and one day they were gone. Never did see the mother/father.

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  3. Lucky, Lucky you. I would love to have an owl perch where I could see and visit. Wow.

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  4. Since you have a pair and they are young, you may have an nest in that tree.

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  5. I love owls! We have barn owls around the farm quite a bit--and other kinds that I am not able to identify for sure. These are so cute!

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  6. Isn't wonderful to have nature on your doorstep!
    Hugs - Lurline♥

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  7. What a wonderful surprise! You just never know what life has in store, do you?

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  8. What a lovely visitors to have in your garden.

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  9. Oh Elaine, that is the most wonderful gift!! And not only one which would be awesome enough BUT TWO---O girlfriend, I am so excited for you. I would LOVE to have them come 'visit' me. You are blessed. :)

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  10. How wonderful to have such unusual wildlife come so close :)

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  11. We have owls all around us - big ole barn owls. Some are about 3 feet tall and they all make great noise at night. One landed on the patio wall a couple of months ago and sat there for about an hour (we also have a lot of bird feeders which may look like the grocery store to an owl). They are very fun to watch and, like you, we feel lucky to have the wildlife! (I grew up in Scottsbluff - where are you?)

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  12. How cool is that? I would be so thrilled. :D

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  13. Awesome! We see hawks but never owls around here. Hope they stick around for you to enjoy them a bit longer.

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  14. Oh how precious...they did not care if your lipstick was on straight or not!!!
    We hear owls "hooting" all the time. And we get hawks that catch the sparrows are the bird feeder. But I cannot say I ever seen them flying around.
    XOXOXO Subee

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  15. Oh wow. What an amazing story. Good picture, too. Thanks for sharing. Glad you hurried home, eh?!

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  16. You are lucky to have seen these owls, I like owl a lot, but have never seen one in nature. Only in zoos, but this, not far from your home, is something special.
    KATRIN W.

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  17. How neat! I've had doves (pigeons) nest not three feet from an enclosed cat house... Cats looking on! You would think that would have unnerved the pigeons. Maybe it did, they never came back after the one year...

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  18. Don't you just love seeing wild creatures of any kind (except snakes of course!) I think of these sightings as precious gifts.

    Lynn

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  19. It's so wonderful when nature decides to say hello. I was driving into the north country (NH) on back roads Saturday when a hawk or a falcon (sorry, don't know my birds as well as I should) flew along beside my car for about a half mile! We were both checking each other out and I know I was totally in shock and in complete awe. Best part of my month!

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  20. How exciting and your Mister thought to call you to come home. Very impressive. I've never seen one in the wild myself so I can only imagine how excited you were.

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  21. That is very cool. My Larry loves birds of prey, and his love has taught me to look up ~
    :-}pokey

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  22. how cool is that? and you got a great picture of them. that pic could be the definitive picture of camouflage in the animal kindom.... great fun looking at this.

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  23. How awesome is that! Your photo is great! I have only seen one own in the wild.

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