November 17, 2023 After two weeks in gloomy, face- and finger-numbing North Dakota, I return to unlayered and shirtless glory in Bisbee. The merino socks and gloves, basewear and balaclavas, the wool-lined Marmot jacket, are back in the closet until my next subarctic adventure.
So glad you got to see the Barred Owl. Barred owls were probably most responsible for me continuing to look for and learn about birds. When I first started walking on a nature trail, I was seeing them all the time. They really do have favorite branches and perches too!
I guess we all have birds that drew us into birding--mine was an Elegant Trogon in a tree outside the cabin my family was staying in. I never saw the Barred in its favorite tree, for all my searching. But it was nearby, very ghostly flying low through the trees. After we left ND, the same birder who sent me the photo of the snowy owl later sent me a photo of TWO Barred Owls in the "favorite tree."
Great report. Son-in-law very hardy with just that vest, no gloves. Told ya there would be birds! Congrats on all of the lifers.
You were right! Thanks! Funny, my daughter saw this photo of Chris and texted me with Dad, tell my husband to put on a jacket!
Congrats on the lifers. That owl! What a beauty.
Thanks Bryn! Yes, so exciting to finally see the owl--thanks to the crows!
So glad you got to see the Barred Owl. Barred owls were probably most responsible for me continuing to look for and learn about birds. When I first started walking on a nature trail, I was seeing them all the time. They really do have favorite branches and perches too!
I guess we all have birds that drew us into birding--mine was an Elegant Trogon in a tree outside the cabin my family was staying in. I never saw the Barred in its favorite tree, for all my searching. But it was nearby, very ghostly flying low through the trees. After we left ND, the same birder who sent me the photo of the snowy owl later sent me a photo of TWO Barred Owls in the "favorite tree."
so enjoy every post, Ken, and unbelievable photography. Here is a seasonal poem for you, Janice
Aravaipa Wilderness
the wild turkeys showed up out of the blue
but really, only the heavens shined that way
a flock of over 15, all ages, a family tied together by blood and land
craggy and gorgeous, a wide creek sounding birds and ripples, a hole I fall into and stop chatting
the turkeys chatted too but it wasn’t a gobble
maybe the new words I learned about them later on:
“jennies” and “jakes”
the meaning of the Apache word “Chiricahua”