The arrival of a new owlet is when I’m energized for another year of birding. Like the bear, I hibernate in the winter. I wouldn’t want to fight the elements in -20C temperatures with not much to see but a blanket of white. After waiting patiently for the snow to be gone and rain to let up, today is the first fine day to begin my few months of nature hopping. I was richly rewarded.
This single Great Horned Owlet makes it all worth the wait. Other birders told me that there were two babies this year, but one fell off a tree and was taken away by wildlife staff, hopefully to mend injury and recuperate. So, leaving this one all the more precious. Can you find baby here?
.
A close up for a better view of this adorable, downy ball:
.
Check out this photo below, see anything special? Only the owl can do this feat where both the head and the tail face the same direction. That’s right, baby has turned his head 180° :
.
Sure knows how to pose for the camera too:
.
and the natural, without needing to pose:
.
Mom is close by, but like all mothers, always in need of those precious 40 winks:
.
A fine day to start another year of nature hopping. More photos coming up…
Ripple Effects 
How lovely! Thank you for sharing!
LikeLiked by 1 person
You go birding and you see owls. I go birding and I see geese. I’d love to see one of your owls. Great photos!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wonderful captures of the owl. Hooray for a new season of birding. Happy May to you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The same to you… enjoy your Spring, Ellen!
LikeLike
Arti,
So excited for you!
Yinling
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love the annual owlets! You got some wonderful photos. thanks for sharing!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Interesting that they come back to the same spot to breed, even the same tree cavity! That’s why we regular birders know where to find them, our annual owlets. 🙂
LikeLike
I’m so glad to see your owlet, and the mama! They’re a wonderful sign of your spring, and I always enjoy seeing them. They’re unbelievably cute — who could keep from smiling when coming across one? It’s great that your birding season’s begun. I just saw my first green herons this week — summer residents that bring smiles, too. They’re our smallest heron, but they have big voices!
LikeLike
I don’t think I’ve seen a green heron before. I’ve seen the Great Blue Heron here, although not frequent. I’ll be heading to the west coast some time later this spring, hopefully I can see more variety of birds.
LikeLiked by 1 person
What darlings!!
Happy Spring Birding, Arti!
LikeLiked by 1 person