It was Saturday March 2nd and I think everyone has "cabin fever" by now and wanting to get outside. So I was joined today by two friends as we scoured the park for Owls. We first hiked out to the very middle of the park, into the island of thick Buckthorn. Along the way we spotted a Downy Woodpecker busily hammering at a dried up weed stalk. Once among the Buckthorn we weaved around slowly and quietly through the tree clumps searching hard for anything that may be hiding there. In just a short time we did notice a Northern Shrike high atop a tree to the west.
As I pointed him out, he decided to fly our way and actually landed in the Buckthorn much closer to us. Though I see Shrikes quite often at the park, it's not often that I get this close to them. I got excited and started taking photos in rapid succession while trying to move in even closer. But the loud crunching snow scared him off again. Later we were greeted by yet another hiker and his dog who had wandered out into the middle as well. The dog was barking loudly with his owner calling even louder after him. So at that point we began to think that if any Owls had been in the area they were gone now! We did some more searching along the northeast side of the park but still no Owls. After returning to our vehicles at 73rd Avenue and calling it a day, one of our group left while myself and my other friend continued chatting. As we did and the sky began to slowly dim, we spotted something large take roost in a tree over a house along 73rd.
To our surprise it was a Barred Owl who turned his head around to look at us briefly. I found this quite amusing that we'd just spent 2+ hours scouring the park for an Owl and all we had to do was sit and talk near our cars to see one!
As I pointed him out, he decided to fly our way and actually landed in the Buckthorn much closer to us. Though I see Shrikes quite often at the park, it's not often that I get this close to them. I got excited and started taking photos in rapid succession while trying to move in even closer. But the loud crunching snow scared him off again. Later we were greeted by yet another hiker and his dog who had wandered out into the middle as well. The dog was barking loudly with his owner calling even louder after him. So at that point we began to think that if any Owls had been in the area they were gone now! We did some more searching along the northeast side of the park but still no Owls. After returning to our vehicles at 73rd Avenue and calling it a day, one of our group left while myself and my other friend continued chatting. As we did and the sky began to slowly dim, we spotted something large take roost in a tree over a house along 73rd. 
To our surprise it was a Barred Owl who turned his head around to look at us briefly. I found this quite amusing that we'd just spent 2+ hours scouring the park for an Owl and all we had to do was sit and talk near our cars to see one!
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