Photo of the Week - Sept 1, 2019 - "OWL HOUSEKEEPING" - Great Horned Owl (Immature)
"OWL HOUSEKEEPING"
Great Horned Owl - Immature (5 Photos)
The bobcats will return next week. However, this young owl, born this year, granted me some extraordinary hours of watching as it groomed, slept and stretched from its vantage point of a fallen tree trunk. Having taken a few minutes to have a quick snack, I looked up after hearing our young owl clicking its beak in warning, to see a White Tailed Deer mother and its fawn passing close to the owl. Thanks for the heads-up, Owl and keeping me apprised of what was in the area. The pair moved quickly on through the dense grass.
I have seen owls groom, stretch, "pellet" and sleep but this was the first opportunity to see one plucking at grass and pulling it through its talons and beak. Having done some brief research, this appears to be a way of cleaning both of blood and vestiges of food. If anyone has also seen this activity, please let me know either via email or Twitter.
PHOTO #1 - "Draped in Feather Apparel"
Great Horned Owl - Immature"FORMAL DRESS"
PHOTO #2 - "Floss After Every Meal"
Great Horned Owl - Immature"OWL FLOSSING"
PHOTO #3 - "Grasp Grass Tightly Between The Talons"
Great Horned Owl - Immature"GRASP THE GRASS"
PHOTO #4 - "How Does an Owl Wash Its Face?"
Great Horned Owl - Immature"BEAK CLEANING"
PHOTO #5 - "All Clean & Ready for an Evening Out"
Great Horned Owl - Immature"YOU BLINK FIRST"
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