My Nemesis the Owl

From 12-11

Until the last few months, I considered my nemesis bird all those in the Owl family.  Although I am not a long time birder, I have been quite avid the last 5 years when I was bit by the birding bug.  I have done a lot of reading and when out birding, I would always look in cavities in trees and likely owl perches, but to no avail.  I had seen a Great Horned Owl once in someone's scope at 300 yards and for about 1 second, along with decent views on a cloudy day of a Snowy Owl 2 years ago from 200 yards.  Never on my own or in my local area had I found an owl.
    The luck was broken when my son (10 years old and interested in birds) and I went to an area to go birding along the CT river (Station 43) in November.  The area was flooded so we went along a small backroad that often gives many species in the fields and trees along it until it hits the river where you can park and walk along a trail.  I had read for years in the forums of owls there but never seen one.  I knew of a knothole in a tree that had held owls before but not for a few years per the better birders.  I still look in it every visit.  This time I almost kept going before I realized there was an owl sleeping in the hole.  Lo and behold it was an Eastern Screech Owl, allowing us wonderful looks from 40 feet.  It would be easy to get closer, but I was afraid of disturbing it, and left it be after a lot of photos and looks.

From November 2011

Then in December, while out birding on a cold morning on my day off, while watching and photographing a flock of bluebirds, I heard a persistent group of cawing from crows.  Many times before I would follow this sound to find a Red-Tail Hawk or just a group of crows, so I made my way towards the forest where they were but took my time thinking I likely would not find anything.  When I arrived twenty minutes later, I found 2 crows calling a foot away from an absolutely gorgeous and very large Great Horned Owl.  As I slowly approached, the crows flushed and flew away with a few coarse calls at me;  the owl looked at me and closed it's eyes, likely thankful it could let it's headache start to fade.  It allowed me an hour of close looks from 30 yards away, once again I did not want to disturb it, as it was resting.  Many of my photos were taken in auto, many in semi-manual as I was just starting to get the hang of the settings, and this allowed me some decent shots despite the heavy shade in the tree top.

From 12-11

From 12-11

From 12-11

From 12-11

From 12-11

I include several shots as I have trouble deciding which is better, and each shows some different detail of the bird.  It's plumage is just beautiful.