Happy Saturday! I hope you are having a great day as you read this!
Ready for a puzzler that’s not a type of plant? We’ve been doing plants for a while now, so I thought I would switch tracks and do an animal.
The other night while in a state park in western Montana, I was taking our dog, Schroeder for a walk when I spotted this owl, just looking at me from the lichen-covered branch of a pine tree. Wow, I was thrilled! It’s not every day I get to see an owl! And this one was pretty close to the trail, just watching me as I watched him. Super excited, I snapped some photos before he or she? took off for his nightly hunting session.
Have you seen any great wildlife lately? Had any interesting wildlife encounters? Use the comment box below to tell us about them–we’d love to hear from you!
Take a look at the photos. Do you know what bird this is? Can you identify it?
Check back next weekend to see if your guess was correct!
Is it the great horned owl??
I think it’s a long rated owl because of the.face markings.
Claire, actually, Arden was right— it IS a great horned owl, but is what’s called a pale variation, not the typical brown color we are used to. Seems that is common here in the northwest. Thanks for reading and taking time to comment! Have a great day!
Arden— you got it! Good guess!
Great Horned Owl ? Lucky YOU!
This past week we had a Black Bear in our front yard! Have lived here in Western NC in a lowland. farming area for 15 years and it’s the first we have seen. It had been hot and dry and thinking it may have come for a drink from the river behind our house. It was very exciting.
Helen, yes, you are right, it is a great horned owl— but what’s called a pale variation. I was over the moon thrilled! …. and lucky you too, getting to see a bear! It is amazing you have gone so long without seeing one there! Isn’t it always such a treat to catch a glimpse of a wild animal? I always feel so lucky for that encounter, however brief. Thanks for sharing!