Well, I have empty nest syndrome now. My owlets have fledged. I checked this morning and the nest was empty. I next spotted mom and dad a little way off as the sun rose. It didn’t take long to spot the first baby. It was high up in one of the pine trees mom frequented while they were on the nest. The second baby took me awhile to find and I was getting nervous, but eventually found it a little further back and lower than it’s sibling on some lower brush. Mom came over and fed both of them while I was there. Both parents take part in providing food for young owls. Young may leave nest and climb on nearby branches at 5 weeks, can fly at about 9-10 weeks; tended and fed by parents for up to several months.

Both GHO parents at dawn.

Great Horned Owl silhouette.

Baby #1 high in a pine tree.

Baby #2 lower and hidden on a smaller pine in the background.

Half moon.

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After leaving the owls I checked out a park I have only visited once that was fairly nearby. It was decently successful. I watched a Cormorant catch and eat a fish. There were a bunch of Limpkins calling and some interesting ducks. I also got good pictures of a Cardinal and a Wren.

Indian Blanket

Double-crested Cormorant with fish.

Double-crested Cormorant with fish.

Double-crested Cormorant with fish.

Double-crested Cormorant with fish.

Red-winged Blackbird calling.

Tricolored Heron.

Limpkin.

Redhead duck flapping it’s wings.

Lesser Scaup.

Northern Cardinal singing.

House Wren on a stick.

Laughing Gulls with trash. This wetlands is near a landfill which is common and are often very good birding sites. I thought the gull was carrying trash and the others were chasing it, but looking more closely it looks like it was wrapped around its leg.

Brown Thrasher with acorn.

I guess the acorns are tasty. This Mottled Duck was eating them also.

Squirrel playing king of the hill.

Marsh Rabbit.