The male was back by the bridge this evening.  He flew around us and buzzed the raccoons a few times. 

The female came out and went back in.  This is the first time we’ve caught her returning.

The male was back in the nest cavity today.  He flew out in fairly bright light.  I wonder if he’s got a job to do?

The female appeared and I couldn’t tell if she flew out or went back into the cavity.  There was a small bit of gray, left in the cavity, which could have been her head, a feather or a nestling?  At this point I’m confused.  I can’t wait for this puzzle to be solved.

Tonight was lots of fun.

The male was in the cavity by the bridge.  He was in his usual spot, jumped around to the “back door”, and flew out towards to the same tree he had used the night before.  He then flew around the nest area scoping out the squirrels and raccoons.

He then did something I had thought I had seen him do before, but this time I got to see for sure.  He knocked a squirrel off the side of a tree, making him fall twenty feet.  The squirrel managed to grap a limb of a bush in order to break its fall.  It was amazing to watch. Gray Squirrels are three times heaver than an Eastern Screech-Owl.

While watching the male after this, Jean saw an owl fly into the cavity.  It wasn’t the male, since I could see him the whole time.   So, the female had taken a short break and returned to the cavity.

Lots of action.  It’s going to be tough to watch the two of them being so independent. You can only be in one place at a time!

We keep hoping for a glimpse of a nestling but haven’t seen one yet.  We really have no idea where they are in the nesting cycle.

James O’Brien called me and said “Rush over, there’s an owl in the cavity by the bridge.”  Now that was a change.   The male was back in this old spot.  He was visible for a great deal of time after the fly out, but no sign of the female in the standard spot. What’s up?  Have the eggs hatched and he’s been kicked out?  Or is something else going on, maybe something to do with the squirrel?

There was no fly out tonight.  All I got to see was this inquisitive squirrel.

Only the male flew out this evening.  It was cold and windy.  I hope there are kids soon, if only for a change of pace!  It’s been a three slow weeks.