May 2014 – Pueblo Mountains
This owl was one of two chicks in a nest along Cottonwood Creek.

Great Horned Owl

May 2014 – Malheur National Wildlife Area
Just a few hours after the above photo… another Great Horned Owl nest. This one had older chicks and a mother bird keeping watch.

Great Horned Owl

Barred Owl

We were just leaving the trailhead from Mt. Mitchell (just south of Mt. St. Helens), when I saw some movement out of the corner of my eye. It was this Barred Owl, swooping down to the forest floor to grab an unlucky mouse. He then floated back up to a mossy limb to have a little snack. A car can work as an effective blind – the bird doesn’t see the car as a threat, and for whatever reason, doesn’t perceive the people inside them. So, I fished around the back seat for my camera and long lens, while the owl ripped the mouse to bloody pieces. I snapped a few shots with the window rolled down, and then tried stepping out of the car for a closer look. I only took a couple steps though, and the owl took off (after finishing the mouse).