Southern Vancouver Island Wildlife

Post by **sassyk** » Sun Jul 08, 2018 10:07 pm

I went to see the Barred Owls at Beacon Hill Park this evening. The owlet was perched on the same branch as the last time I was there. It was snoozing and preening and watching me. I heard Mom hooting from a few trees over but I couldn't see her. I was the only one there at that time and I left for awhile to go see the Great Horned Owls. They were both perched in the same tree snoozing. One opened its eyes, scratched and shook, then closed its eyes and went back to snoozing. The other one half opened one eye then it also went back to snoozing. When I got back to the other side of the park to see what the owlet was doing, it was still perched on the same branch and Mom was perched in another tree down the path. There were a few people there watching and one lady who had never seen an owl in the wild before was absolutely thrilled. Mom flew to another tree closer to where the owlet was and watched as the owlet made its way closer and closer to her, stopping along the way to pick at a few leaves. It flew to the open fenced area and landed down low in a tree. Mom also flew to a nearby tree to keep watch. There were quite a few people watching by that time and the owlet jumped down from the tree, landing on the path where it was having fun playing with leaves, cones, sticks, bugs. Mom flew to a closer tree and watched it. That is where I left them. I recorded some videos that I will upload tomorrow, and will also post some photos. It was a fun night

Post by **sassyk** » Mon Jul 09, 2018 12:29 pm

Some photos of the Barred Owlet at BH Park last evening. One photo of Mom perched in the tree at the end of the path. Lighting wasn't so good there.

Owlet sleeping.

Owlet preening & cleaning its foot.

Post by **sassyk** » Mon Jul 09, 2018 12:32 pm

Owlet perched on different branch stretching its wings.

Post by **sassyk** » Mon Jul 09, 2018 12:33 pm

Owlet getting very sleepy.

Post by **sassyk** » Mon Jul 09, 2018 1:38 pm

A few photos of the Great Horned Owls at Beacon Hill Park last night.

This one was not in a good position for photographing.

Post by **sassyk** » Tue Jul 10, 2018 11:10 am

One of many videos I recorded on July 8th of the owlet in Beacon Hill Park.

Post by **sassyk** » Fri Jul 20, 2018 10:04 pm

I went to visit the Barred Owlet at Beacon Hill Park this evening. It started out a nice night but unfortunately clouded over by the time I got there. I heard the Mom hooting from a short distance away and the owlet eventually flew from tree to tree towards the hooting and out of sight. It is not so fluffy now. I managed to get one poor quality photo

Post by **sassyk** » Tue Jul 24, 2018 12:38 pm

I spent some time with 'Woody' the owlet in Beacon Hill Park yesterday. He was trying and trying to expel a pellet without success. His Mom brought him a Rock Pigeon but he wasn't hungry. I went back a little later after visiting the Great Horned Owls at the edge of the park and 'Woody' had still not expelled a pellet. He looked very tired and the other lady who visits every day said he looked like he had a hangover

Post by **sassyk** » Tue Jul 24, 2018 12:40 pm

More photos of 'Woody'. He had lots of visitors yesterday while I was there.

Post by **sassyk** » Tue Jul 24, 2018 12:43 pm

The second time I was there 'Woody' was a bit more active, watching all his visitors, preening and stretching.

Post by **sassyk** » Tue Jul 24, 2018 12:46 pm

Last 2 photos of 'Woody' climbing up the branch and stretching.

I saw only 1 Great Horned Owl on the other side of the park.

Post by **sassyk** » Tue Jul 24, 2018 3:46 pm

I saw a Mom Raccoon with her baby in Beacon Hill Park yesterday afternoon. The baby was hiding behind the trunk of a tree across from the Barred Owl's nest tree. The Mom was eating something at the base of the owl's nest tree.