October 05, 2006
Barred Owl On Byrne Creek Path
I was hoofing it up the Byrne Creek ravine path this afternoon when I passed a bend and came face to face with a gorgeous barred owl. I slid to a halt and we stared at each other. I began speaking to it in a low, quiet voice, explaining that I was going to slowly remove my belt pack and get my camera. The owl held me in its gaze and didn't move.
I slowly moved closer, and kept snapping photos, some without flash, and some with. It was fairly dark in the forest, so the photos without flash tended to be blurry, and the photos with flash produced amazing red eye.
I got as close as a meter, and it was incredible watching this magnificent bird monitor its surroundings. It seemed to be more concerned with tracking crows and other birds than it was with my presence. It finally took off when another walker came down the path with a dog.
