It’s that time of year when our winter owls will soon be making their way back into the deep forest. It’s been a good year with plenty of action and fun times spent with the Great Grays and Hawk Owls.

Morning forecast appears to be decent so it’s off to bush country which will likely be the last for the winter season. Hopefully there will be some rewards in this last out-n-about.

Would be nice to find the Hawk Owl again to be active as it was on a recent visit…even though it was a strike and a miss it was exciting to witness…so the fingers are crossed.

With finally a sunny, calm day the job jar had been put on hold so it was off to bush country and owls. Slow disappointing start with no Great Grays but my luck would soon change.

Came across a Northern Hawk Owl…now I’m not a big fan of pole/wire perched owls but never pass up the chance. It soon became apparent that this owl which is much smaller than a Gray was active. They are also more challenging to photograph since they are smaller and very quick and fast with little to no indication when they may launch from a perch.

So it was a coat open, gloves off kind of day where I was able to spend time with this little speed demon.

It would have been more eye pleasing if this launch had been off a tree but you take whatever Mother Nature provides.