Some of my notable photos and experiences that I intend to share are growing more and more dated, but I felt the need to share this experience, which happened yesterday, with you.  I try to walk the loop road in Washington Park five days a week, weather, health and other commitments permitting.  My walk start times vary somewhat with the seasons/amount of available light but by anyone’s standard I am at the park early.

This past spring and summer other early walkers and I have tracked the progress of a pair of breeding Barred owls who managed to successfully fledge two owlets.  We shared sightings and locations and were able to obtain many good views of the owls and their young,

On Wednesday, September 26, 2018, two of the morning walkers observed a Great Horned owl fly from the ground to a branch of a tree.  A good many of the morning walkers (and I) were able to see the owl which seemed unconcerned about our presence.  I took some photos with my cell phone but surmised (correctly as it turned out) that the owl might lay up for the day in the same general area.  So I returned at 10am when I could drive onto the loop road in my car with my camera, lens, monopod (total weight 13 pounds!) and a chair.  After a careful search, and having passed by it three times, I finally found it resting on a tree limb.  I took several photos but the owl was in shadow and I could see that as the day progressed, and if it didn’t move, it could be in more sun later in the day.

I returned to the park about 3pm and found the owl had moved only slightly and seemed to be enjoying the sun which was shining directly on its back and side.  I took another series of photos, some of which you see below.  When on my Thursday (9/26/2018) morning walk I was unable to relocate the owl.