Barred Owl Encounter

On a recent visit to San Antonio, TX to spend the holidays with my daughter, I had the pleasure of making the acquaintance of a pair of Barred Owls (Strix varia). 

Taking advantage of a little break in the not-so-nice weather that had moved into S. Texas, we decided to get out of doors and wander an inner-city park situated along the river.


As we were strolling along, looking here and there, discovering the presence of this little bird and that, a large striped bird flew into a nearby tree.  My first response was to call out,  "Look, it's a hawk!  No, it's an OWL!"  It perched for a few minutes as it contemplated who or what we might be before deciding what to do next.

My adrenaline level was elevated beyond all measure, the GOOD adrenaline!  My heart was beating so hard I thought it might break through my chest wall.  I've had very few owl sightings since becoming a birder, although I have made several attempts.  And here he was, sharing our time and space. 

The world stood still once more.

He flew to a nearby tree, a more picturesque setting, and hung out for quite awhile, much to the dismay of the resident smaller birds.  They dive bombed him, and squawked at him, and he just blinked his eyes, looking around, unbothered by the commotion he caused.

How do I know he was a he?  Because when he finally flew away, and I turned to continue my stroll, look who I found sitting almost exactly where he had first landed, watching our every move -

I wonder what she was thinking?