Great Horned Owl male

On 26 November 2016, friends and I were so very lucky. On a walk in Fish Creek Park, we found not only an owl, but two owls, and different species - a Great Horned Owl (not the one in this photo, but its mate) and a teeny, popcan-sized Northern Pygmy-owl. It had been almost two years since I last saw a Northern Pygmy-owl. That one, also, had been seen in Fish Creek Park. On 26 November, it was near the top of a very tall tree, so my photos were fully zoomed and cropped and fit to post just for the record.

The Great Horned Owl (posted yesterday), however, was seen nice and low and out in the open. The bird was large and fairly pale, so we think it was probably a female. After taking a few photos through the trees, we continued our walk and I was able to get a few shots from a different angle, just before she closed her eyes and went to sleep.

Then, yesterday, 27 November 2016, I decided I would go back to the park and meet different friends and hope to be able to at least show them where we had seen the Great Horned Owl the previous day. Amazingly, there she was, sitting in exactly the same place, out in the open. We continued our walk, talking about seeing owls, when I suddenly stopped and grinned. I had spotted a second owl (smaller and darker, so a male) so far away in the distance, through a mass of trees. No idea how I saw it, as it was so well camouflaged. After a long look, a couple of my friends still hadn't been able to find it, it was so well hidden. A fully zoomed and cropped photo shows what a beautiful bird he was - lovely colour on his face.

After our walk, some of us called in at Tim Horton's for coffee. I always enjoy this, just as much as the walk itself. Thanks, Janet, Bernie and Stephen for a rewarding afternoon!

Will add our leaders' list of bird species seen, in a comment box below. Not many species seen, but the two owls more than made up for it.