A flash across the back sliding door caught the eye of my two kids. Was it an owl? What else would be that large. They live in the tall trees in the forest that lines the back our home. You can hear them almost any night. But to see an owl is a rare treat. They make their home way up in the trees Obscured by branches and the darkness that pervades the interior. They are also nocturnal. But on this day we spotted a barred owl just a few feet away on a branch.

I got some good shots of the owl with my Nikon DSLR using a telephoto lens. Incredibly it turned my way for a moment and I got the shot. It moved on and we watched its behavior. It would fly to a branch, get agitated ruffling it wings then take off in a dive to the ground. We could pick up when it was about to fly. At the time there were hummingbirds around and other birds making chirps and songs. Yes, they were singing too. There’s a predator around and they’re singing away. And if you observe birds, they are a nervous bunch. Everytime they drink, bathe, or eat at the feeder, they’re looking around and are very nervous and vigilant.

The barred owl is nocturnal but not exclusively. They eat little birds and mammals. They are predators.

I do enjoy watching them fly. No other bird is as graceful as the owl.