Great Horned Owl

I thought it might be fun to start with some of the most recent visitors to my yard. I had some Great Horned Owls in the spring, they disappeared for bit, and now I am seeing some again. So here are a few shots of one I have been seeing around. Captured these shots on the 23rd.

In this first shot the owl is ruffling it's feathers, just after landing in the tree. I heard what I thought might of been a Great Blue Heron, grabbed my camera and headed out to the pond, and found a Great Horned Owl instead.

After taking a few shots of the owl, I looked away for just a moment and it flew off, I didn't see what direction it went, and since they are so silent when they fly I never heard it either. I went back to the house, and fount it in a tree near the house. Here's a shot of it there.

Here is another shot of her/him later in the day, I went for a walk down the driveway, and saw it sitting up in a tree alongside the driveway. The owl just sat on the branch and watched me as I walked by underneath it. I always wonder what they must be thinking when they watch you like that. You may want to click on this picture to get a larger view.