Leaving work tonight (17 September 2025), we noticed a Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus) perched on top of a telephone pole. I turned around and pulled off the road nearby.
We watched for a few minutes and then the owl crouched and took off, gliding down towards the ground:
It landed among the grass, but at first I couldn't tell if it had caught anything:
But then the owl looked up and I could see something in its bill. This happened quickly, and looking through the camera I couldn't tell what it was, but zooming in later, the prey was visible:
A garter snake! It didn't take long for the owl to swallow the snake.
The next views showed off those large yellow eyes:
And then the owl flew up to a nearby cypress tree. The light was just right for a great view of its talons:
An unexpected encounter! You never know what you'll see on the way home from work.
I'm thrilled to see these pictures. I've had one or more Great Horned Owls seemingly in my back yard for days (nights) at a time, over the last several years, and their hoots are captivating, but I've never seen one in "person." It's great to get such intimate glimpses through your lens.
ReplyDeleteYay! I saw it yesterday too, but worried if I pulled over to take a picture I'd scare it off. Your pictures are so much better than mine would have been that I'm glad I didn't risk it.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great sequence, Jackie! I, too, saw the owl when I drove home, but did not stop. I'm so glad you did.
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