Owlets peeking out of the owl box
The most exciting time of screech owl nesting season is here! The owlets have grown big and curious enough to climb to the doorway and look out at the world for the first time. For the past several days we’ve seen the tops of fuzzy heads in the box and even a shadowy glimpse of big eyes. But yesterday the owlets crowded themselves around the opening and boldly stared back at us as we took photos. (My daughter shot most of these, using my telephoto lens.)
There are at least three owlets in the box, but we only got good shots of two at a time.
They have such funny expressions!
Sometimes they lean far out of the box, as if to get a better view.
Their parents roost in surrounding trees during the day and feed the chicks at night. We spotted the male, who is gray and the smaller of the pair, in the evergreen sumac behind the owl box tree. (If you missed my earlier pics of Mom and Dad Owl, you can see them here.)
He sleepily eyed us from only a few yards away, resting one foot for a while by pulling it up under his body, like a flamingo.
The reddish and larger female was roosting in a ligustrum behind the back fence, a bit higher and harder to see, but also calmly tolerating our presence. After all, they’ve shared the back garden with us for about 2-1/2 months now.
Sometimes smaller birds mob the owls and complain about them, but I’m not sure this cardinal even knew they were there.
Just hanging around on the deck…
…and the payoff is these cute faces!
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Your daughter got some great photos. I wondered how the owls would cope with the cacophony of the Fling, but they seem to have been unruffled. They are so cute!
I hoped we might spot one of the parents in a tree at the Fling, but there was too much going on for me to do more than cast a quick glance around. Didn’t see ’em. But I know they were there, watching all of us. —Pam
Cute! They are all adorable, and nice job by your daughter on the pictures. Thanks for sharing these updates with us.
She got some great shots! —Pam
I noticed the owl box when we visited your garden but neglected to ask for a status so I’m pleased to see it now. I imagine both owl parents and owlets hunkered down and hid when your garden was mobbed with bloggers.
I imagine so. Although the parents really are pretty laid-back at this point with our immediate family members. —Pam
It is such fun seeing these sweet faces. What a sight just outside your door. I bet those first two looking out were standing on the head of the third one. 😉
That’s what I was thinking! —Pam
I looked up at the box to see f they were there but no. You are so lucky to have them come back again. Our owl boxes remain vacant but there is still hope. Someone said they waited 8 years for the happening. Maybe I have enough time!
It is a mystery. We had a nesting pair for years, and then 2 or 3 years went by with no owls. And then this year we have them again. —Pam
How wonderful to have them! My dad and his wife have had one nesting pair, but not recently. Love those photos.
It is such a delight to watch them. Lucky for your dad and his wife too! —Pam
These have to be some of the chillest owls ever, after the Fling crowd. The little grey one may be leaning out to see and ask “Where all the bloggers at?”
Thanks to your daughter for the excellent pics.
That’s probably exactly what he’s thinking. That or “When’s dinner?” —Pam
Omg – just looked up from your post and saw 2 owlets in our owlbox. I was getting a little worried that we wouldn’t have any this year but was still hopeful and checking it out every day. So cute – your Picts are great
That is so exciting! They do tend to hang back and not show themselves until close to fledgling age. —Pam