The other day whilst I was enjoying my coffee and looking out my kitchen window, I thought I had seen an owl in the tree which pretty much covers the windows. It's like being in a tree house. I saw the owl on two occasions in the same spot. But the owl looked very small, so I thought it must be some other kind of bird, although I do have two owls which reside over the grounds here. I tried to capture a picture but was never quick enough with the damned zoom. Now the other day whist walking Buster Bolfig , I spotted the same owl again, but on the ground behind some thickets looking for insects I suppose or small varmints. I quick snapped a picture, not the best.......
Once in, I ran to googles to research. Upon finding on there, and in a bird book, the little guy is indeed a owl called Little Owl, which normally is resident in much of the temperate and warmer parts of Europe, Asia east to Korea, and north Africa. It is not native to Great Britain, but was first introduced in 1842,and is now naturalised there. It was also successfully introduced to the South Island of New Zealand. So this guy seems to be wayyyyyyyy off course!!!!!! Or how it even got here?!? Even though it has been extremely mild here I worry for it when and if the cold hits. The Little Owl is a small owl, usually 8.7 in tall with a wingspan of 22 in for both genders, and weighs about 6.3 oz, The adult Little Owl is white-speckled brown above, and brown-streaked white below. It has a large head, long legs, and yellow eyes, and its white “eyebrows” give it a stern expression. This species has a bounding flight like a woodpecker. I also read that it feeds mostly on worms, bugs and very small mammals and other wee birds, which might explain the disappearance of my finches. When I first saw it in person it was about as big as my out stretched hand with an inch added. Here are some Little Owls....
how cute are they?????
In the meantime I contacted a lady from the Peace Valley Wildlife Preserve which operates a branch up the road here at the lake. I sent picture from post here and she is pretty sure it is indeed a Little Owl. Since the temps don't get drastically cold here, and if the little owl builds a nest or lives in the tree hole she said it should be fine. She may stop by to see the little owl sometime upon my call. She seems to be in the tree a lot,and sits for hours. Just this morning I saw her again, and last night before dusk. I have since named her Pepper. Another honorary pet in addition to the squirrel , Bouvier, who comes every morning for his two peanuts from me.
