Last week's grouchiness melted immediately at the sight of Pepper, on display at a local birdfeed and supply store as part of a fundraiser for a local owl-related charity.
On a hot tip from friend Steph, Kerry, my dad and I headed to see some hot live owls, originally slated to include a long-eared owl and a burrowing owl, which I was very excited to see up close (rare as they are). Instead of the burrowing owl though, there was Pepper – a one-year-old northern saw-whet owl (Aegolius acadicus).
I have never seen a saw-whet owl – common enough as they are here in the wild – though I've heard plenty during my annual volunteer stint as part of a local springtime nocturnal owl survey. But they happen to be my favourite bird. In the whole. Wide. World. As such, Pepper merely had to bat his big Bat-Boy eyes and everything seemed suddenly alright again.
No disrespect to Nemo (above, top left and bottom right), a long-eared owl also in attendance – you were OK, too. But please view some close-ups of Pepper here, and here.
7 comments:
These are SO BEAUTIFUL! I just love the details...next best thing to being there. I really love owls.
Mary, you would have melted at the sight of this little guy. I can't believe he kills mice and eats them. He looks like he should be eating jellybeans.
Wicked pix Jeope! Where is this bird seed place with the owls?
This was at Preferred Perch on St. Mary's Road, but the owls were a one-day-only deal. I'm not sure where they're kept the rest of the time.
so freaking great, Jeope!
She is beautiful, Jeope!!! I love owls. My grandma used to have a wicked collection — they were all over the house. Glad I got the Pepper doodle!
He seems like me sometimes during the day...What a spectacular animal. and nice photos
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