We had a nice time watching two Eastern Screech-Owls wake up tonight for about 30 minutes.   Unfortunately, they gave us the slip at fly out by flying into dense cover.  But it was nice to see that they were both healthy.

Tonight with Caroline’s help, we got to see a rare summer glimpse of the Eastern Screech-Owl pair we had studied this winter and spring.  The pair, which has an older female and a young male, certainly seems to have bonded.  They engaged in head rubbing activity as part of their wake up activities this evening.

The pair was mobbed by American Robins, which allowed us to keep track of them after fly out.  As night fell, and the Robins went to sleep, we were able to watch one of the owls bathe.  Watching an Eastern Screech-Owl bathe is one of the hardest behaviors to observe, so all of us left the park with smiles on our faces.

After not seeing them for days, I found both of them.  They were very active in the warm weather and I quickly lost them.  Not sure if they are nesting or not.  I only saw them for a few minutes, which was enough time for a nest break.

We’ve stuck out for the last few days. No sign of the owls. 

With a new young male and the warmer weather, it’s possible that they’re just exploring and staying in various tree tops.  But it’s also possible that they’ve nested and we just can’t find them.

I guess we’ll know the answer in a few months.  Owlets aren’t quiet.  That is one thing I do know.

The female called loudly this evening from the east side of Springbanks Arch.  Then she flew off to a spot over the path we used to walk down into the Loch when she had been flying out from Glenspan Arch.  She stayed there until a raccoon came near and she went due north flying right past us. 

We then lost track of her, and never saw the male this evening.

Saturday had been a wipe out.  Sunday was better with at least one owl being found.  I think I had both, but never saw them at the same time.

I was only able to get one blurry picture and a wide angle landscape in the moonlight.