In Bechtel Woods there has been a very cooperative Eastern Screech Owl (Megascops asio) of late, and it has generally been perched at its hole when we have gone to see it.
Captured in a picture like this the owl is quite visible, but I can assure you that in life you could walk past it a hundred times without seeing it.
Any encounter with an owl makes for a great day!
06 October 2021
Riverside Park, Cambridge, ON
It has been a while since I brought you news of Lily, so get ready for a feast of photos!
Riverside Park has a long boardwalk where all manner of people have for years brought bird seed to feed birds that have become increasingly willing to take food from the hand.
Lily wanted to give it a try!
Oh, look at that!
How much fun is that!
I don't think I've quite got the hang of it, but I can watch all the pretty birds anyway.
I'm even starting to recognize their calls.
Let's give it another try.
14 October 2021
Columbia Lake, Waterloo, ON
Some of you will perhaps recall that when you first met Heather as a biologist helping us with bird banding at SpruceHaven, she was usually joined by Daina Anderson, equally dedicated and proficient.
A couple of years ago Daina moved to Alberta to take up a new job, and was visiting Ontario for the first time since then. COVID prevented an earlier visit "back home".
It took no time at all for Lily to say hello, in between bites of a cookie, that is.
I can start training to be a flamenco dancer. Do I look sufficiently seductive?
Adults are crazy; they just walk past a metal sign without realizing how much fun it is.
Thanks, Daina, a little girl in cowboy boots needs a helping hand to walk on a narrow concrete kerb.
After that you get tossed in the air. I sure hope that Daina comes back often.
Adults always like to pose for group photos, so I just go along with it.
I forgot to introduce you to Daina's beau, Rob. That's him on the right. He's an engineer who works on drones and he could tell you all kinds of interesting facts.
This has been a great outing.
Doesn't it sound great when you smack this sign?
As always, all too soon it's time to say goodbye for another week.
I heard that my mom is going back to work in January, so I'm not quite sure how we will be able to have our walks then. I hope we can work something out.
Bye for now. Hugs and kisses from Lily.
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Querido David muchas gracias por este gran momento que pasé con vosotros. Lily esta hermosa y me alegra ver que también disfruta con las aves. Es una niña maravillosa. Las fotos son divertidas y muy bonitas. En cuanto al Búho es una suerte poder verlo así. Un enorme abrazo para todos/os.
ReplyDeletePerfect camouflage for owls.
ReplyDeleteLilly, you've added a special interesting loveable note to bird watching! Thanks for letting me come with you all today!
ReplyDeleteLily seemed to handle those up close and personal visits from the chickadees quite well. Won't that first time they land on her hand be special!! Love the cowboy, or should we say cowgirl boots:)
ReplyDeleteThe Owl was fantastic with the camouflage! I think it's amazing how good some animals are hidden.
ReplyDeleteLily is always so sweet, and the cowgirl boots was fantastic!
Hugs from Norway,
Marit
And look at those cowboy boots! It doesn't get any cuter than that and she is learning about birds and nature at an early age. She will find the fun and adventure in it all her life. Love that beautiful owl...what perfect camo!
ReplyDeleteBuenas tardes querido amigo David, después de unos días de inactividad bloguera por un pequeña gripe que, ya vamos dejando atrás, pasamos a saludar a los amigos.
ReplyDeleteCada día que pasa es más encantadora y ya empieza a disfrutar con las aves, dentro de poco ya te estará ayudando.
La imagen del Búho Chillón es una pasada, seguro que, si paso treinta veces cerca no conseguiría verle, el camuflaje es perfecto.
Os deseo feliz fin de semana y buena entrada para el mes de noviembre.
Un gran abrazo David de tu siempre amigo y compadre Juan.
Hello,
ReplyDeleteAwesome sighting and photos of the Screech Owl. Lily is adorable and having fun watching the birds being hand fed. A great outing and beautiful photos. Have a happy weekend.
Your commentary, matched with the antics of Lily, is a delight. This would make a great children’s book about a walk in nature and all the wonderful things one can find there!
ReplyDeleteWonderful photos that you have captured of Lily's close encounter with the pretty chickadee - they are magical.
ReplyDeleteHow lovely to see the owl and Lily, really 2 cuties. Lily is growing into a beautiful toddler with her funky cowboy boots, I need some like that in my size! Glad you all had such a magical trip to see the birds! Hugs, Valerie!
ReplyDeleteHUGE smiles are splitting my face.
ReplyDeleteThank you, the beauteous owl, the equally beauteous Lily and all those who nurture and support her.
Two cuties, indeed! Love those pictures.
ReplyDeleteGreat photos and narrative, David. Another young birdwatcher falling in love with the birds. Priceless!
ReplyDeleteHari Om
ReplyDeleteAwwwww the owls are gorgeous... Lily matches them!!! Such a fun post, thanks David. YAM xx
Wow she is so grown up now and hardly a baby any more. Cheers Diane
ReplyDeleteShe has her own little personality too - and attitude!
DeleteBirds and babies.
ReplyDeleteIf these don't make one smile, check for a pulse!
You had me at the Screech Owl!
The owl looks quite content.
ReplyDeleteThe owl is wonderful. Your new header is perfect. Soothing.
ReplyDeleteYou could take Lily on for hand feeding of birds training.
Love the new header photo. I'm sure I would have missed that owl, he's so well disguised :)
ReplyDeleteLilly is so cute, love the cowboys boots. Isn't that so amazing to have birds eat out of your hand.
Great photos David, have a lovely Sunday.
What a lovely owl and a lovely Lily, too. I heard a Southern boobook owl last night for the first time in ages. It sat up in the highest part of the marri tree outside my bedroom and called for quite a while. Occasionally - not often since it's very shy - we're lucky enough to see it as it hunts from the arch close to our back door.
ReplyDeleteYes, any day one sees and owl is a very good day, or night. We have an owl that lives close by and every night comes to my yard. He/she sits on a limb of a huge tree. Lily is getting so big. She sure is a cutie in her pink cowgirl boots.
ReplyDeleteI like your new blog pix very much - sandpipers? A very interesting composition of them just posing for you at different levels. It's like you got them to understand how a photo shoot is done! We only see a few scattered sand pipers here in the wet lands. The E screech owl does a great camouflage, I initially thought it was a photo of tree barks. Lily is a sweetie and well on her way to be a budding ornithologist. GOOD Job, I think I prefer her to be a bird watcher rather than a flamenco dancer although I would admit the latter would make a more lucrative career 🤣🤣
ReplyDeleteI do like your new header photo, it's subtle.
ReplyDeleteThe owls, love owls, all the birds a nice to see as always.
Lily is a sweet thing and learing to explore new types of things.
Great pictures! The owl is quite a camouflage artist, and Lily is adorable!
ReplyDeleteThe camouflage owl is wonderful. So is Lily. I love the way she discovers nature.
ReplyDeleteHi David - I love your new header ... while the Screech Owl is quite extraordinary ... the camouflage is perfect ... just amazing to see. It's great to see Lily growing and developing her skills - and going to school perhaps next year ... once Mum is back at work. Her cowboy boots are a delight to see ... and I bet she masters bird-feeding from the hand very soon. Great catch up post ... cheers Hilary
ReplyDeleteHi David.
ReplyDeleteYou show beautiful birds.
Beautiful Owls.
And what a party with Lily and for Lily.
How nice that she could slowly get acquainted with birds, flowers and plants.
Awesome.
Greetings from Patricia.
I like your new banner :-)
ReplyDeleteAnd I spot more than two cuties, too! Cool outfit.
I could sit here all day viewing your granddaughter! What a wonder she is ...better than any bird watching. But, I must admit the bird photos shared today (those owl photos are priceless) we're phenomenal too.
ReplyDeleteThanks for linking in this week.
First of all I love the new header. And the screech owl has great camouflage. I've never seen one in the wild, so you must know how to spot them. And I love Lily's cowboy boots. She is a cutie and you couldn't have posted any fewer photos I'm sure. Enjoy the end of the weekend.
ReplyDeleteGreat bird photos, and I always enjoy seeing photos of Lily!
ReplyDeleteThe expression on Lily’s face as she watches the bird feeding on a hand is priceless…a visual expression of wonder. Priceless. She is already a bird lover!
ReplyDeleteSo much love there. Great to introduce the little ones to beautiful nature.
ReplyDeleteYes a great day when we see an owl-- or a granddaughter!
ReplyDeletebest... mae at maefood.blogspot.com
Great photos. I especially loved seeing the owl. And Lily has a nice big smile, as always.
ReplyDeleteLily a de biens jolies bottes!Je veux les mêmes :D
ReplyDeleteCela a dû être très amusant pour elle de voir les oiseaux se poser aussi près.
Le hibou est très joli, il se confond bien avec l'écorce de l'arbre.
Bonne soirée
When this post started out, it was fun to see the owl, David, but it got even better with the delightful photos of the very lovely Miss Lily, her mom and Daina too. What a wonderful close-up experience of hand feeding the birds too.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great pictures of Lily and what a nice and beautiful girl.
ReplyDeleteLove how she tries to feed the birds.
That is certainly enjoying David.
Greetings Tinie
Lily is growing up so fast. Love her facial expressions with the birds - imagine what it will be like when she actually starts feeding them :)
ReplyDeleteTwo cuties indeed, David. I didn't think that I'd ever say this, but the owl takes second place! Best wishes - - - Richard
ReplyDeleteThere must be a tribunal for owl heretics and it's obvious you need to be hauled before it!
DeleteYour family is beautiful and delightful and little Lily is a hoot ... she is going to grow up to be a beauty and fun loving as she is surrounded with happy people. As for the Eastern Screech Owl (gray morph) I have fallen victim to their stealthy abilities more than once even in their mews at the raptor center, I would walk in and suddenly be afraid they have escaped because I couldn't see them right away. The larger owls are equally as stealthy one reason why you rarely see them in the day ... it's not that they aren't there. That would have been a good subject for Rainn's "Being Watched" prompt. And I do have to comment on your dinosaur book. I always believed that birds were from dinosaurs and I find your book a very interesting possibility ... I think I will go to Amazon and see if it is available. I will let you know what I think after I read it:)
ReplyDeleteNice to see that you are getting out and about while being safe. Stay well David ...
Andrea @ From the Sol
Hi David, I enjoyed uour blog of course. At first the owl is marvellous, I can understand that the camouflage is superb and that you can't find the bird when not looking good. This one looks a bit like the scopps owl we've seen in Lesvos and seem to be 'part of the tree' where they stay.
ReplyDeleteAt second Lily is gorgeous and I like her cowboy boots so much, fantastic. It's lovely to see she enjoys birds and nature so much and that's she raised loving all this beauty around her. I hope she'll soon be able to feed the birds herself, she'll love that I think.
Hugs and all the best,
Marianne
Amigo David, muchas gracias por compartir con nosotros estos momentos tan hermosos, da gusto ver a Lily ¡cómo ha crecido, está guapísima! disfrutar con la naturaleza y con los pájaros.
ReplyDeleteMil besos.
Isn’t it amazing how owls seem to find the perfect perch to blend their feathers with the bark background? I love the second photo, Sleepy Owl. How exciting for Lily, to see a chickadee so close. She’s going to be quite the birder in a few years! (Or maybe a fashionista if her fetching pink cowboy boots are any indication!)
ReplyDeleteHi David,
ReplyDeleteThe Eastern Screech Owl is a beautiful bird, it goes completely unnoticed.
I loved seeing Princess Lily's report, more beautiful every day, she is growing and learning. She is always so happy and smiling.
Kisses and hugs also for Lily and the whole family
Lily looks so cute. Nice to see the great outdoors in Canada.
ReplyDeleteI marvel at Lily, she is already a big beautiful girl.
ReplyDeleteHmm, that's weird. Canadian birds are so trained that they can eat grains from the hand.
Happy November:)
So nice to see the owl.
ReplyDeleteWonderful to see all of the photographs with Lily, what a joy she is.
All the best Jan
Oh, these are just fabulous, David. I love seeing Lily out of her stroller -- she's quite the girl! And that face when feeding the birds so very close. That's a treasure and I'm so glad it was captured in such wonderful photos. It sounds like a really wonderful reunion for everyone. I'm intrigued by that gorgeous black bird with no ID and a wonderful head. And how very much that owl's body looks like bark!
ReplyDeleteIt's a Red-winged Blackbird, Jeanie.
DeleteDziewczynka rośnie pięknie i zaczyna broić! Urocza jest!
ReplyDeleteSowa piękna!
El reportaje de Lily es precioso, me encanta ver como va creciendo. Besos y abrazos para todos.
ReplyDelete