It is Great Horned Owl nesting season and I was able to visit 2 nests for the first time of the year this morning. One is a new one to me. The other is one I have followed for years. In between I made a stop at Fort Desoto to capture 2 rarities that are hanging out together, a Smooth-billed Ani and a Groove-billed Ani. I met one birder who had driven down from Bloomington, Indiana just to see them. There is a small population of Smooth-billed Anis in South Florida. Groove-billed Anis are a rare visitor to Florida. They are in the cuckoo family.
Male Great Horned Owl standing watch near the nest.
Female Great Horned Owl on nest
Smooth-billed Ani
Groove-billed Ani on left and Smooth-billed Ani on right.
Smooth-billed Ani eating berries
Groove-billed Ani sunning
Smooth-billed Ani in flight
Smooth-billed (closer) and Groove-billed Ani together.
Sleepy male Great Horned Owl
Male Great Horned Owl
Male Great Horned Owl grooming
Male Great Horned Owl fluffed up
Female Great Horned Owl on nest.
Once again great pictures
This is one of my favorite set of photos ever, probably because I have never seen or heard of several of the birds. The shots of the Ani eating berries are great, as are the photos of the Great Horned Owl grooming. WOW!