There’s “Give a Hoot” … there goes “Give a Hoot” (male Great Horned Owl)

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This afternoon, Friday, 02-05-21 I went out looking for the owls. I took a chance and didn’t bring my snowshoes after the few inches of snow we recently got on top of what we already had and now with the drifting snow in the open areas.

 

The area where I knew I could use the snowshoes were going to be in the area where I recently found the female Great Horned Owl, “Hoot” after 39 days recently. When I got to that area I glassed the trees as best I could and didn’t see her so I continued on.

 

My next area I checked was where I’ve found a Barred Owl that I’ve photographed several times. I didn’t find it in this area, so I crossed into another area that I call Area B. I’ve found this Barred Owl in this area just a few days ago. The male Great Horned Owl hangs out in the area, also. When I didn’t find the Barred Owl there I knew of another Barred Owl about a quarter mile away. 

 

That Barred Owl doesn’t cooperate and sit still when I get in the area. It’s also harder to see it ahead of time because the trees have a denser canopy. That’s just what happened today I saw the owl fly from its perched and since I don’t have my camera out I didn't get any shots. 

 

Next, I moved closer to the tree line along a large marsh where I will sometimes find the male Great Horned Owl, “Give a Hoot”. I got back to the “winter crossing” to go back into Area A and guess who goes flying in front of me at a right angle.… it’s “Give a Hoot”. “Give a Hoot” doesn’t usually stay put very long. Luckily, he flew into a tree nearby so I got my camera and lens out. I didn’t bother to set up my tripod, because I knew he would be on the move shortly. The location where he flew from explains why I didn’t find the cooperative Barred Owl because the male GHO was perched there. 

 

He stayed long enough for me to get a couple shots while he was perched, then I got a couple more shots as he flew off.

 

I put my camera back in my backpack and headed for the area where I located the female GHO a couple days ago. I decided to trudge through the deep snow. It sure was slow going through the marsh to get close to her area. I mentioned last time the area isn’t a typical location where I would expect to find a GHO, but there are a few conifers. I glassed the spruce tree where I found her last time, but I didn’t see her.

 

 

Chucke a Hoot” … there goes “Give a Hoot”