OT...cool owl photo

[pitonpat]

This is a Barred Owl (we named him Barry- inventive, huh?) sitting on a little hump of frozen snow in front of my friends porch in Chittenden, VT. The photo was taken yesterday through the kitchen window. Barry is hunting the 2 red squirrels who have been eating the sunflower seeds which have been dropped from the bird feeder onto the porch by the local Chickadees.

We first saw him perched in a nearby Birch tree, watching the porch. Later that day our friends watched him pounce on the snow, catching a vole in his talons. He then stabbed it a couple of times with his beak, and proceeded to toss it up into the air, catching and swallowing it whole!

Barred owls are local to this part of VT and are heard calling frequently but this is the first time our friends have seen one around the house in the 30+ years they have lived there. Must be pretty hungry to be out hunting in daylight!

We've been fascinated with him, and now my wife is composing a children's story about him for our grandchildren. Just a bit of fun for us, and a reminder of how beautiful the natural world is.....

[pitonpat]

/Users/wpatrickcorryco/Pictures/iPhoto Library.photolibrary/Masters/2015/01/09/20150109-172549/OwlSm2.jpg

[pitonpat]

Can't get the photo to load... Internal server error message. Can anyone be of assistance?

[MattTuck]

right click on the photo, click, "view image" and then just copy the URL of the image. We'll be able to get to it from there.

[Louis]

Looks to me like you have an incomplete address. (at the front end)

[jds108]

Looks to me like you have an incomplete address. (at the front end)

Or that's the file location on his personal computer. The photo needs to be loaded on the internet, then use the hyperlink for that website/address.

[Louis]

Or that's the file location on his personal computer. The photo needs to be loaded on the internet, then use the hyperlink for that website/address.

If the image is on your PC use the "Manage Attachments" button to transfer it from your computer to the forum's server.

[pitonpat]

Hope this works...thanks Louis

[Louis]

Cool.

He's pretty big if he can take on a squirrel.

[notsew]

That's awesome! A great shot too. I've yet to see an owl, heard them a bunch, but never seen one. I know they are around here, my buddy got attacked by one least year as he was out on a run.

Way more impressive than the finches and towhees that frequent our backyard!

[nighthawk]

Awesome, thanks for sharing! That little dude has a serious scOwl going on.

[macaroon]

Sorry I haven't read you OP, but it's a good excuse to post this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=APMheQP3pgU

[pitonpat]

Yep, he's definitely a cool customer.... about 18" tall. Temperature that day was about 9-12 degrees and we were hoping he would score a meal to keep him warm!


See this:http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/the-spotted-owls-new-nemesis-131610387/?no-ist

[mike p]

Very cool! Thanks for posting.

Mike

[MattTuck]

Hope this works...thanks Louis

Awesome! Owls are so cool. made me think of this though!

http://assets.diylol.com/hfs/af0/dbc/1a2/resized/fry-can-t-tell-meme-generator-can-t-tell-if-making-fun-of-me-or-cold-c2c727.jpg

[likebikes]

whooo cooks for you!

[Louis]

whooo cooks for you!

I have a few in the woods around my place and hear that call quite often. In fact, a while back I heard it at the end of one of my rides, near sunset, as I was grinding up the last few hills in my subdivision.

[rustychisel]

Awesome photo pitonpat, thanks.

We have a resident Boobook Owl in our backyard trees, still haven't spotted her or managed a photo, but hear her calling very often. Well, apart from the one or two times we've been in the backyard at deep dusk and been swooped by her.... can be quite disconcerting sitting under a gum tree with a cool gin and tonic when a rush of wings goes past your head at a distance of 12 inches.