Looks can be deceptive

Every once in a while, these small, piercing eyes would turn to look at us, but the rest of the time, this beautiful Great Gray Owl was looking in every other direction. We are pretty sure that it's a young one from last year, as it had a lot of fluffy feathers lower on its body. It was such a laid back owl, quite happy to sit - and sit - and sit : ) Taken NW of the city yesterday afternoon, when I decided at the last moment to make this long drive. Who should I bump into but friends Phil and Rob, who informed me I had just missed an owl. We drove slowly in opposite directions and then they came rushing back to let me know that they had found another one. So, I was able to follow them back to where this beautiful bird was perched. No matter how many of these owls I see, each one is such a treat. Need I say - much better than seeing an owl at the Zoo?

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Grey_Owl

Maybe 45 minutes before seeing this owl, I had driven past a bird of prey perched on a fence post at the edge of the road. I knew that if I turned around and went back, it would most likely take off, so I took a few distant photos instead. My bird of prey identification skills are not the greatest, to put it mildly, but now I'm wondering if it was a Gyrfalcon. Will post a photo tomorrow.

Yay, I've just had the ID confirmed by a friend who is an excellent birder, Tony - it is a Gyrfalcon that I saw. Not sure if it's a juvenile grey form?

www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/gyrfalcon/id