I'm baaack ...

Added later: I totally forgot to say, when I uploaded today's three photos this morning, that yesterday was kind of a weird day, lol! It started off when I happened to glance out of my living room window and noticed something whitish against the outside of my fence. My first thought was that maybe the fake owl had been blown off my roof! Then I was hoping that it wasn't an animal that had died. Later in the day, when I was dressed and ready to go out for a drive, I walked round the side and discovered two fairly large Buddha garden ornaments! I wonder if someone stole them from someone's garden for a prank and left them there. Can't think of any other reason. Forgot to check today, to see if they are still there.

The other thing that happened was very different! Occasionally, when I'm along one of the roads SW of the city, friend Pam also happens to come along. So, yesterday, I had pulled over to photograph a Wilson's Snipe standing on a fencepost, totally in my own little world. I was suddenly aware of a car pulling up alongside of me - and Pam was who I thought of straight away. However, when I turned to look, I found myself looking into the face of a Police Officer sitting in his Police car!!! Almost always, when I pull over, I turn on my hazard blinkers, or at the very least, the indicator. Didn't that time, so I was feeling very guilty. However, the Police Officer hadn't stopped for that reason. He just wanted to check that I was taking photos and, I guess, that all was OK. He asked what I was photographing and I pointed out the bird. He said he had wondered if maybe I had seen a bear on the distant hillside (I wish!). Then he apologized for making the bird fly just before he drove off, with a friendly "Take Care" : ) I almost decided to leave for home, but then changed my mind and went in search of (hopefully) an owl. Not a good feeling, though, each time I pulled over, lol!

The feel of goose bumps and half-numbed skin was the most wonderful feeling late yesterday, when I couldn't bear being inside my place one more day. It feels like an oven each summer, but this year, with the crazy weather we have been having, the heat has already been too much. I had already stayed home for three days in a row, as the two day trips at the weekend had totally knocked me out. Yesterday (8 June 2016), though, I couldn't take the indoor heat any longer, and so I took a drive SW of the city. By the time I got back home, I felt 'cold', which was so good. Travelled all my usual roads and back roads, seeing all the usual things, including Wilson's Snipe, Red-winged Blackbirds and Mountain Bluebirds.

When I felt it was time to start on my homeward journey, I reckoned I might as well check one more time for a Great Gray Owl. I almost drove straight past this beautiful bird - it was on the far side of the road and just blended in with the light and shadows of the forest. I took this and a few other quick shots, then drove down the road and turned around, hoping that the owl would still be in the same place, which thankfully it was. It eventually flew across the road and landed in a tree or two and then made its way to an open area where it continued to hunt. After a few minutes, it dove into the grass and completely disappeared from sight. I thought I must have missed seeing it fly away, but it eventually did reappear and immediately flew across the road again, with a small rodent in its beak. A quick stop on a fence post (with its back to me, sigh) and then it flew off into the trees. No matter how many times I see one of these owls and no matter how many hundreds/thousands of photos I've taken of them, each owl is as exciting as the very first.

Having been so very fortunate to see this owl (which i have now seen on three days in the past week), I thought I would check one more time to see if the second owl that I saw a few days ago was anywhere in sight. Nothing - but I did watch and photograph a sweet pair of Mountain Bluebirds. Not my 'usual' pair, though I did see them briefly, earlier on my drive.

"Although the Great Gray Owl is the tallest American owl with the largest wingspan, it is just a ball of feathers. It preys on small mammals and has relatively small feet. Both the Great Horned and Snowy owls weigh half again as much, and have larger feet and talons. The oldest recorded Great Gray Owl was at least 18 years, 9 months old and lived in Alberta." From AllABoutBirds.

www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Great_Gray_Owl/lifehistory

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Grey_Owl