Can you see the owl in this photograph? This is the same tree cavity this pair of Great Horned Owls used last year – much nicer accommodations than an exposed stick nest one usually observes these owls on. The male was perched at his usual sentry spot in a nearby conifer, collecting warmth from the sun:
We're getting a lot of snow today and are supposed to have somewhere between 12" and 20" of total accumulation by the end of Wednesday. I'm glad I was able to go birding at the conservancy for several hours yesterday, as it looks like we're going to be snowed in for a few days. Perhaps I'll finally get some snowshoeing in this winter.
Location: Pheasant Branch
Observation date: 1/30/11
Number of species: 25
Cooper's Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Rough-legged Hawk
Mourning Dove
Barred Owl
Belted Kingfisher
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Blue Jay
American Crow
Black-capped Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
White-breasted Nuthatch
Brown Creeper
American Robin
Cedar Waxwing
American Tree Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Northern Cardinal
House Finch
American Goldfinch
House Sparrow
© 2011 Mike McDowell
