Long Time No Owl

 Approximately eight years ago I saw an owl at this tree cavity.  

Someone had reported it to a birding forum and it caused a bit of a shit storm with photographers.  I remember seeing an army of camouflaged men for the most part combing the woods, looking for this tree cavity.  It was early on in my days of birding and using a camera.  It was shocking to see as many were not staying on the paths.  It reminded me of a movie, where there is a search for a child or perhaps a man hunt to see a large group of people walking in a line across the woods like this.  I kind of took offense to what they were doing as this was one of my favourite spots to look for birds since it was so close to home.  A couple days later they were all gone.  I don't think many found the cavity or the owl, at least not when I passed through (I would not make it obvious if I peeked at this particular tree, and would keep walking).  It was nice to have a quiet woodlot once again.

Over the years I eased off on visiting these woods just because of the rampant off leash dogs and steady flow of joggers and cyclists.  Avoiding dog shit all through the trails was another annoyance.  I would still venture into these woods a few times yearly, mostly in the winter, because there was always a good bird or two to spot, and less people.

This week I took a walk in, first time since I think the winter of 2018/19.  Long overdue!  It was kind of drizzly so I knew it wouldn't be as busy.  I passed that tree which I never forgot about and to my joy and surprise there was an owl roosting the morning away at another cavity.  I was happily shocked at my "find".

I smirked about the people who all walked right under this sleeping beauty and did not see it.

There was no point to hang around at the owl now.  I had a great look at it.  I took a few photos.  Now it was time to continue my walk to hopefully find something else I had in my mind to see.  I really wanted to see a Barred Owl; this is my wish bird for this season.  I did not find one on this walk.  Maybe next time?  Perhaps I should think about finding a Screech Owl and maybe it will turn into something else, like a Barred Owl?

I passed this bird on my way back to the parking area.  I went for an artsy shot.

Then one last look before I was gone.  He's turning into the bark now.

Owls are something to see in the wild.  It's unfortunate that sharing the location to the general public always turns into something negative and disturbing for the owl as well as the habitat.  A few of my friends and I always wonder what it is about owls and people here?  When we were in Las Vegas, and out with a bird guide there, we talked about this.  There's nothing like the owl craze here in other regions.

Wish me luck in my continued search for a Barred Owl.  I do know where one is, that seemingly everyone else knows too, but I will hold out hope to find one in not such a popular spot much like this forgotten about tree.

Coyote Encounter 2020

 A morning stroll had me cross paths with this beautiful girl.

My first sighting of her had us about 50 ft apart.

I froze in my tracks.  Not out of fear but out of awe, and curiosity as I wondered what she was going to do next now that we were looking at each other.  I was heading north on the path and she was heading south.  After this short pause, she started to walk again, continuing in my direction.  I stayed still and took in the moment.

At approximately 15 to 20 ft from me, she stopped.  Our eyes met again.

I guess she considered me a road block and decided to go around me, stepping off the path and passing me on my left.  She still wasn't more than 15 to 20 ft from me.

I remained standing where I was, only twisting my body to take more photos.

It was when she came back out onto the path behind that I turned around so I could continue enjoying this one on one moment with her.

Seconds later she squatted and did her business right there, having a pee along the side of the path!

Then she kicked up the leaves after she was done.  I was really getting a show from the coyote like I have never experienced before.

It was obvious that by this time I was no longer anything in this coyote's world.  She didn't give me another glance and then continued on her way south.  I found it interesting how she was staying on the path.

I had hoped for just one more glance.

That was not to be.  A thought to make some sort of noise to try and get her attention came to mind but I didn't want to ruin the perfect silence here in the woods.

As she went around that last bend, I quietly thanked her.  Holding a little smile, I turned around and continued on my journey.

I saw zero birds of any kind on this walk.  I saw zero humans too, which was fine by me.  Encountering this coyote as I did here made for a nice, very unique outing, something that I won't soon forget.  I rarely see coyotes, especially this close.

She wasn't tame.  She wasn't vicious.  She wasn't sick.  She's just older.  She's obviously been around, seen some s**t in her territory and has defended it as such (my take anyway) judging by the wound on her right eye.  She deserves respect, to which I gave her, and in return she blessed me with a few minutes in her world... allowing me to forget about covid, work and any other stresses in my life.  The encounter played over in my mind throughout the rest of the day, even as I drove about the Pepsi warehouse on my forklift for 8 hours.

Dumb Asses

The other week I went for a walk to one of the nearby lake parks.  I was there a day earlier releasing some birds for Toronto Wildlife and heard eastern bluebirds in the meadow.  Time was not on my side to go seek them out for a look and a photograph so I vowed to come back.

Unfortunately they did not stick around.  Boooo!  I love bluebirds.

I tried to make the best of the outing and walk around, see what else was in the area.  A lot of the birds to be expected were about...  robins, chickadees, cardinals, hermit thrushes stopping in for a feed and some rest while on their migratory journey.  Then near a small pond I saw what looked like a chubby wren.  Quick glances I knew it wasn't the usual house wren species that I often encounter in our area through the summer.

It was difficult to stay on the bird with my bins.  It was in and out of the reeds and other plants surrounding the pond.  I was making mental notes of the field marks on the bird.  A quick look at the bird app on my phone and I guessed it was a marsh wren.  A few more looks at it plus some "so so" photos and I was certain on my ID.  This may have only been my second time ever seeing this bird species.  I thought it was pretty cool and moved along, feeling satisfied with my walk despite not getting to see bluebirds.

I passed a guy along the path and he asked me what I had been seeing,  I ran off a short list with the marsh wren being last (but not least).  He immediately blurted out at me "No way!  Impossible!"  I tried to explain something back to him but he cut me off, told me that I should go buy a better bird guide than whatever I had.  I wasn't going to argue back any further.  Why bother?  Plus with us being in a pandemic, I wanted to stay far back and eventually get away from his loud mouth.  So no showing him photos on the back screen of my camera.  I ended up telling him where I saw the bird and then moved along.

It would be nice if he went and sought it out.  Finding it.  Then hopefully learning something.  But I doubt it.

I somehow think he looked at me, seeing the long hair and immediately judged me as who knows what on top of being someone who isn't a "birder".  I never call myself a birder.  I never call myself a photographer.  I'm just a guy that likes everything from the natural world and also likes to take pictures of the creatures I come across.  F**k the labels!  F**k the stereotypes too!

Some years ago I ran into a guy taking photos of a northern mockingbird.  He was insistent that it was a northern shrike though, and he was so happy to see one so accommodating for the photo opp.  I politely tried to correct him on his bird identification here.  He got quite irate, called me a "stupid metal head who doesn't know birds" and went back to shooting.  That was enough for me.  I just walked away though I should have said something unkind in return.

A friend tells me to ignore these bird snobs.  I think dumb asses is a better term.