Another Busy Backyard Owl Season

 

Fast and furious is how I would describe what I immediately noticed upon our return from Boston on May 29. 

I got out of our car in the driveway ready to take in suitcases when I heard that distinctive young owl sound. 

I have described the sound as a shrill hiss or whistle. My neighbor calls it a screech. The sound is clearly not the hoot associated with owls. 

For four of five years in this time period: mid -to-late May to mid-to-late June, Barred Owls have been making daytime visits to the trees at my house and some neighbors yards. Here are links to a few of my posts in previous years. 

•  June 2022 Post (includes an owl in a birdbath on our back porch!)
• June 2023 Post

These are young Barred Owls that may not know that they are nocturnal. While the parents are sleeping during the day, the youngsters fly away to play. That could be what is going on- curiosity about this big wide world they are part of now. 

Barred Owls are Back!

 

This May and June, as during the past three or four years, Barred Owls have been making daytime appearances in the trees in my front and back yards.

Last June I videotaped a Barred owl enjoying one of our bird baths. Check out the post and video! 

For photographs like this one, I experimented with the “art bold” setting on my Canon PowerShot SX70 HS camera. This effect, according to the owner’s manual, “makes subjects look more substantial like subjects in oil paintings.” 

Here is another “art bold” example. I do like how it makes the Owl and it’s surroundings pop and more vibrant. 

Charmed by a Cute Pair of Barred Owls

 

Wow, this month of June has been something! I am hearing and seeing Barred Owls almost daily. Two days ago around noon, Alesia alerted me to Barreds in the backyard…again. 

I grab my camera, step out to the patio, look up, and look what is looking back at me! 

Two beautiful Owls are content to stare at me with as much curiosity as I have to stare at them. And they didn’t mind me moving around to “capture” them from different angles. 

They perch on a Southern Live Oak tree (I think that is what it is) with thick branches that cross in front of a pine tree. I really like the composition of the above two photographs. And you see how the Barred Owls’ coloring blends so well with the trees and branches. 

Exciting Barred Owl Encounters and Camera Captures

The start of June brought an amazing day of owl sightings at my house. A trio of Barred Owls spent much of the day and part of the next hanging around our front and back yards. I was able to take many photos and record videos as well. The most unusual part was when Alesia alerted me that an owl was in one of the bird baths on our back porch. I took almost a minute of video before it flew to a nearby perch. Check it out!  

Cool right? The water must have felt pretty cool to this young Barred Owl- I'm pretty sure this was a juvenile one. The things that children do! 

Here is more video I took earlier that day. 

I posted the bird bath Barred two days later (after posting the still shots to follow) on several Facebook sites (my neighborhood one, a South Carolina nature site and three or four other bird and nature sites). 

On the Carolina Bird Photo Sharing Facebook site it really took off. It has had more than 600 reactions and numerous comments and shares. 

Owl Encounter a Rare Delight

Owls are notoriously nocturnal so spotting and photographing one during broad daylight was special and memorable. It was around 4 p.m. one day last week when I went out my front door and caught a glimpse of a large dark bird flying across the street and landing on a tree near my driveway. I thought it might be a vulture so what a surprise when it turned its face toward me!

It was preening at first with its back to me. When our eyes met and I saw the distinctive round face I quickly went inside to get my camera and invited Alesia to come see too. 

From a few past owl encounters, I figured it would still be there and that I’d be able to get lots of pictures. I was right. 

This is a barred owl. Lately, on local And statewide bird and nature Facebook sites, I’ve seen a number of Barred Owl posts.

I shared my photos on a few of these sites and have received lots of kudos, especially on my neighborhood Facebook. People just love owls! A neighbor, the next day, came to my house with a letter introducing herself, sharing her interest in bird photography, especially owls, and asking me to let her know if/when I see owls in the future.