Sleepyhead

When I went over yesterday to check on "my" baby Great Horned Owl, it was sitting on a fairly low branch on the outer edge of the grove of trees. It was napping, but briefly awakening quite often. The mother was in the same tree but a few branches higher. The father was about two trees away. Eventually, the young one flew to a different tree, where it spent quite a lot of time with its head pointed skywards, presumably watching the various birds that were nearby. This included a female Wood Duck that flew in and perched on an extremely high branch a few trees away. I managed to slowly make my way closer and closer, half expecting one of the adults to move, but they seemed to be pretty relaxed, often having their eyes closed. I got to within perhaps 10' or 12' of the young one, took a few more photos and then decided that it was more than time I left them in peace. I tried not to look down at the ground any more than necessary, as in amongst the grass and plants, I had already seen bloody remains of what could have been a rabbit or a Groundsquirrel. In fact, it was beginning to make me feel very uncomfortable, wondering what I might come across next! Quite a magical experience, though. Have to keep reminding myself that "the Great Horned Owl, our provincial bird, is among the most formidable of Alberta's raptors." (Birds of Alberta" book.)