Dammit! Missed photo oportunity!
One of my favorite reading spots is at a nearby park underneath a huge Magnolia tree by the creek which flows beneath Washington Street Bridge (poetic ain't it?)
Anyway, several times I've seen a barred owl who likes to hang out in this area and sometimes roost in the tree.
Of late I've been bringing my camera when visiting, just in case it shows up (I say "it" since I can't tell the difference...)
On Thursday Hue borrows the car for a business trip. So since I'm walking I left the heavy camera bag behind.
Stupid stupid stupid!!!!!!
While reading I heard splashing noises. After a bit I saw that the owl had decided to take a bath in the creek a few yards away. Then it flew to perch on the sprinkler just across from me. And *stared* at me, like it was saying..."I knew you were waiting to see me and ha ha now you don't have your camera!" Minutes later a second owl flew in to share the same perch. (DAMMIT!) the first went back to bathing then went to dry off in a nearby oak (the blujays were NOT happy) later the second caught something out of the creek and flew off to another tree.
Well that's the last I'll see of them today, I thought. Boy was I wrong. Not that I was keeping track of time, but I noticed movement to my left and saw that one of the owls had perched on the handrail of the steps not more than a few feet away from me. It alternated between staring at me and acting indifferent. (probably because I talked to it) I didn't know if I should be nervous or not, I could see how long the black talons were and that the beak was yellow and sharp.
It seemed so calm I felt for a moment that I could wrap the towel around my arm and raise it like a falconer does providing a perch. Silly I know, but it was just so surreal. Never before has something happened like that out of the blue...(well, unless you want to include seeing two hawks mate while reading on Mom's back porch)
And just why the hell is reading a common theme and not a camera...Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!
Anyway, several times I've seen a barred owl who likes to hang out in this area and sometimes roost in the tree.
Of late I've been bringing my camera when visiting, just in case it shows up (I say "it" since I can't tell the difference...)
On Thursday Hue borrows the car for a business trip. So since I'm walking I left the heavy camera bag behind.
Stupid stupid stupid!!!!!!
While reading I heard splashing noises. After a bit I saw that the owl had decided to take a bath in the creek a few yards away. Then it flew to perch on the sprinkler just across from me. And *stared* at me, like it was saying..."I knew you were waiting to see me and ha ha now you don't have your camera!" Minutes later a second owl flew in to share the same perch. (DAMMIT!) the first went back to bathing then went to dry off in a nearby oak (the blujays were NOT happy) later the second caught something out of the creek and flew off to another tree.
Well that's the last I'll see of them today, I thought. Boy was I wrong. Not that I was keeping track of time, but I noticed movement to my left and saw that one of the owls had perched on the handrail of the steps not more than a few feet away from me. It alternated between staring at me and acting indifferent. (probably because I talked to it) I didn't know if I should be nervous or not, I could see how long the black talons were and that the beak was yellow and sharp.
It seemed so calm I felt for a moment that I could wrap the towel around my arm and raise it like a falconer does providing a perch. Silly I know, but it was just so surreal. Never before has something happened like that out of the blue...(well, unless you want to include seeing two hawks mate while reading on Mom's back porch)
And just why the hell is reading a common theme and not a camera...Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!