We had a very special family living in our backyard, and I couldn't be more excited to share them with you!
For the past several weeks, we have been watching a family of Western Screech Owls who have made themselves right at home around our patio. What started as an occasional glimpse of an owl tucked away in the shadows turned into something much more exciting when we discovered that there were babies!
These adorable little owls have been fascinating to watch. They are mostly gray, with beautiful feather patterns and those big, expressive eyes that seem to watch everything going on around them. One minute they are sitting quietly together, and the next they are looking in completely different directions as if they each have something very important to investigate!
One of my favorite things about photographing the young owls is their expressions. They can look serious and intense one moment and absolutely adorable the next. Their fluffy feathers and sweet little faces make them almost impossible to resist.
The babies have been spending time tucked among the beams and branches around our patio, giving us an opportunity to watch them from a distance. Of course, I have tried to be respectful of their space while still capturing a few photos and videos to remember this special experience.
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A Very Special Backyard Surprise
There is something magical about discovering wildlife so close to home. We spend so much time enjoying our backyard and patio, but I never expected to have a family of Western Screech Owls become part of the scenery!
Watching the babies grow and explore has been such a treat. They may be small, but they certainly have big personalities. I especially love seeing two of them sitting together, each with their own expression and attitude.
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Love this, Linda! They're a little bit spooky, but so intriguing! I've never seen an owl around my own habitat, but would consider it a thrill!
ReplyDeleteYes Linda as a matter of fact we did have owls on our Lanai and in our courtyard...I wrote about them a couple months ago...Ours were/are Burrowing Owls and are a protected species here in SW Florida. People come from miles around just to study and photograph them with huge big lens cameras which look almost like a movie production. They live in burrows all over the Cape. Usually, residents don't want them to come to their yards and gardens because once they settle in...you can not mow around them or do anything that might scare them as they are protected and it is a huge fine if you interfere starting at $25,000.00. (Yes, you read that right) The "Owl Patrol" will come to your home and erect yellow crime tape around the owls and their new burrows and erect 3 or 4 little white crosses in your yard for them to perch.They are adorable as they are very small...5-7 inches tall. They usually stay at the burrow(s) they dig as forever nests. (In other words, they stay all year 'round and for life) When one of the little sweeties started looking for a new burrow in our courtyard and on our lanai..I would go out and 'suggest' he find another place to start a new colony of family. I spoke nicely to him or her, but I really didn't want them (because they keep multiplying and digging more burrows much like prairie dogs) but as I said they are so cute and I do love birds. This particular little owl would perch on my outdoor furniture, our Television, our outdoor kitchen grill, sink, cabinets, the window sills above our slider doors and any little crevice or object he could find. Of course he loved the pool and waterfall and kindly left his 'daily deposits' on anything and everywhere. After several weeks of his and my discussions, I finally convinced him to find more suitable nesting grounds in vacant lots on our street. BTW, if a person buys a lot with existing burrows, they have to apply for a special permit to relocate them which I am told can number into the tens of thousands of dollars....plus no building or digging of foundations etc; can be started if it happens to be a nesting season. So in answer to your question, YES, WE HAVE HAD OWLS IN OUR YARD! LOL.... have a great and wonderful day. Stay cool and enjoy your temporary lodgers as you think about us and our permanent residents.🥰. Disclaimer: No owls Were Harmed in/During the telling of this story!
ReplyDeleteOh Linda how wonderful that you have these beautiful creatures living among you. We have owls here on the golf course and behind our house in the woods but none up close like you have. I love when they are in mating season and talk back and forth with each other. The male calling the female to join him on a date lol! As they get bigger share more pics with us. I just love how beautiful they are. Hugs Kris
ReplyDeleteLinda, that is truly amazing! Your video is crazy, I can't believe how close they let you get to them. They really are adorable and what a treat to watch them grow. We've never seen owls, but we can hear them some nights in our yard...which always surprises me since our houses are so close together, there's not a lot of woodland here. It's a nice sound to fall asleep to though. I do hope you'll share more. What fun you must be having!
ReplyDeleteSO AWESOME! And what wonderful photos and video keepsakes you have of this magical experience
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh - they're the cutest!!
ReplyDeleteOh how lucky and how cute..You must have been clicking away! Those faces.
ReplyDeleteHow exciting for you and Paul, Linda! One of my friends has an owl box that her son put up in a tree and she gets owls to visit. I get lots of birds and occasionally a hawk, but an owl visit would be thrilling.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fantastic post in every single way! I loved the video and they are so darned cute! I'm very fond of owls and love their wonderful faces. Seeing them as close p as this is beyond terrific. You were chosen!
ReplyDeleteOh how fun Linda! The video is so darn cute! They are fun to observe! I know owls are around us but I’ve never spotted one.
ReplyDeleteLove this, Linda! I've seen owls while hiking and it's always a thrill. I'm so glad they chose your land to nest, and your photographs and video are amazing. We are off to California today :-)
ReplyDeleteThat is soooo unbelievable cute! <3
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for sharing your adorable owl visitors with us! The babies are too cute! And the mama owl looks just like she's being so protective of them! What a fabulous experience to share!
ReplyDeleteWow...How lucky are you??? Adorable! Always fun to be able to witness birdie families in person.Years ago there was a very small Owl (I can't think of its name) sitting on the cross beams under the deck over our carport..I can still picture it...Enjoy!!
ReplyDeleteLinda, the owls are so cute. We have lots of wildlife and occasionally owls but not up close. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteThat is so lovely! They look so cute. Owls are special, I think.
ReplyDeleteOh boy can they screech. One was on our tent while camping in the Adirondacks years ago and I thought someone was being murdered!! Great photos!
ReplyDeleteOh Linda, what an amazing backyard surprise! Those baby Western Screech Owls are absolutely adorable—their expressive little faces and fluffy feathers are irresistible. I loved seeing them perched together and watching your video too. How special to have a whole owl family make themselves at home around your patio! We hear owls occasionally and I’m always thrilled when I spot one, but I can only imagine how much fun it has been for you and Paul to watch these babies grow and explore. Such a magical wildlife encounter right in your own backyard! 🦉💕
ReplyDeleteOh, Linda! What sweet, sweet babies. We used to have barn owls when I was a child in PA. The ones you have are darling...look at those faces!!!! We did have an owl last year in the tree behind our place but I haven't seen him this summer at all.
ReplyDeleteI hope you have a wonderful weekend- xo Diana
I love love love owls. We had some Eastern Screech babies in our yard a few years ago, and every now and then I will see one in my backyard. They are adorable, but I don't have enough lizards, snakes, and mice to encourage them to hang out more often. Our property in the hill country had a very large Great Horned Owl that was amazing to watch.
ReplyDeleteOmgosh Linda these are amazing creatures. Love the coloring or their feather and eyes. Nature is incredible and how fortunate to have them so close and trust in you. We hear them at night in bed if we sleep with the windows open but would love to actually see them. Enjoy your new guests. XO- MaryJo
ReplyDeleteOh wow! These are incredible. Every now and then we spot an owl or to in our woods (typically a great horned owl) but I never, ever manage to get any photos them since the few times I've spotted them I have not had my camera on me.
ReplyDeleteThat is incredible!! Those fluffballs are so cute and you even got to see the mom. Thanks for sharing the video and your wonderful photos with us.
ReplyDelete-Soma
Wow Linda, those owls are amazing to look at. I can't believe how close you were to them and great you were able to get photos and a video of them. We have birds, squirrels, stray cats, and possums but I've never seen an owl. I hope you have a nice weekend Linda.
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