Hello friends,
I have been busy (who hasn't?) and frankly as much as I wished to post more often, I really couldn't find time. Anyhow, now I am opening my photos and I am choosing to show today one of my favourite birds - the Scops owl (Otus Scops). Owls are just awesome and every encounter with them made my day. Unlike other birds, during the day they will stay put on some branch resting and this makes photographing them a little easier. Well, first you have to find them.😉
If you follow the #SMaP (Show me a photo Contest in Feathered Friends Community), you have already seen my photo of the owl. Here is the link Feathered Friends - Show Me A Photo Contest Round 167. I also invite you to join the fun and to share your photos in the contest. This week we have the most loved Free Theme.
On our Saturday walk with the dog, we heard the sonar like sound, that undoubtedly belonged to the scops owl. Usually I hear it at night. Following the sound, we looked at the trees, but saw nothing. I thought it might be in the private gardens across the road. On Sunday we looked again. The pine trees are perfect hideout. And hubby exclaimed as he saw it first. Mind you, this owl is tiny. It could fit in my both palms. According to Wikipedia, the length is 19-21 cm, but this one seems smaller.
This is not the first time to see and photograph the scops owl. A couple of years ago we had the pleasure to observe three on a same tree within a month.
This cutie got "ears" of feathers like the Long-eared Owl.
I was so close, the closest ever been to an owl. But that made the bird more curious about us.
I changed the settings during that photo session and here is the photo I like the most.
Speaking about the camouflage plumage, check this out - headless body, same colour as the tree bark.
And I am leaving you with this last image. We did wake the bird up, so it was about time to leave it in peace.
Happy Birding!
Owl be back 😉
Thank you for viewing my post.
