These little fellows are transient in our area during March and April as they migrate to Southern Canada. We have been looking for these birds starting last year in the small conifers in “Owl Woods” located in
the Braddock Bay area. Everyone seemed to have reported seeing them, except us. This year we made a more determined effort, carefully examining all the small conifers–no luck. However, things changed last Wednesday when we received “tip offs” from people coming off the trails as to where the two birds were. Even with this knowledge it took some time to find them in their separate trees where they were sitting slightly above eye level. One had its eyes almost closed, seemingly not put off by us, the other with eyes wide open. They sat nearly motionless, allowing as many photos as we wished–some with fill-in flash.
Most owls sit motionless during the day and will let you approach, providing you don’t go into or up the tree. They blend in miraculously well, but once you find them they seem so obvious. You can find more photos at my on-line gallery http://stephenfieldingimages.slickpic.com/ .
Stephen Fielding Images 