Barred Owl/Wild Bird

 Barred owl (Strix varia)

Yesterday as my husband and I were leaving a great birding area to warm up with hot chocolate or coffee, my husband spotted this barred owl  sleeping on a limb close to the road.  The owl saw me but I didn't get in too close so it didn't fly away, just sat there turning its head and opening and closing its eyes. Note that this owl has brown eyes, not yellow like all other North American owls.

 Same owl, a couple of hours later

When we - a tad warmer -returned, the owl was gone and I turned my attention to smaller birds. But as we headed out again - this time for home - the owl was perched in a different spot and was very wide awake. This time it made it's very famous hoot which gives the bird another name, the hoot owl.

Slightly different pose

I am joining Stewart M's Wild Bird Wednesday HERE

November Already?/Nature Notes

Nature in the garden this week

The sun has been covered by clouds this week and the remains of Sandy have caused rain every day. Truth be told, we needed the rain here...but no one needed the winds.

Local birds visited out feeders regularly. In the largest square you can see two male house finches. They appeared to be having a standoff, but actually I think they were just looking at each other.

Moving clockwise: seed pods of variegated obedient plant (Physotegia); seed pods of purple coneflowers (Echinacea);  plums of maiden grass (Miscanthus); red leaves of Diablo ninebark (Physocarpus) and a female house finch foraging below the seed feeder.

Please visit Michelle at Rambling Woods for more
NATURE NOTES.