Inta and Sophie knocked on my door this afternoon to tell me about this unusual visitor in the tree. I think he might be a Great Gray Owl, but I could be wrong. When he got tired of me taking his picture, he spun his head around just like Regan in the Exorcist.
Update: Further research suggests it probably is a Great Gray Owl – apparently this has been a special winter for birdwatchers in Ottawa!
My colleage and resident bird expert has assured me this is a Great Grey Owl – apparently the yellow eyes distinguish it from the smaller and brown-eyed barred owl. Great sighting!
Miss Vicky, it’s a pleasure to welcome you to my blog.
Thank you for helping to confirm the identity of the Great Gray Owl. (I originally thought – after poring over owl pictures on the net – that he might be a Striped Owl, but then I realized he’d be a few thousand miles from his Central American home if that were the case.)