The weather this past Sunday was not particularly hospitable with temperatures below freezing and steady snow. Most animals had opted to lie low and stay sheltered.

This Great Horned Owl wisely chose to do just that, staying as sheltered as possible in a tree that had a few remaining leaves.There were enough leaves missing through that my friend Bill easily spotted it and let me know about the find.

Needless to say, the owl was in no rush to leave its perch, rightly opting to sit tight in the cold weather. When I got home I realized that the poor thing had ice and snow caked onto its face, an indication of just how inhospitable the conditions were.

I have seen this pair of owls many times in recent years. They have a nice little hiding spot northwest of Denver International Airport, far enough off the road that unless you already knew about them, you would never see them. I’ve tried to get pics of them before but never had any luck as they depart long before you get close enough to get a picture. This Sunday was different.

I was on a photo drive with my sister and a friend was in the area and pointed out that the owls were in their usual spot. We decided to give it a shot and this time the pair cooperated. While they were well-buried and hidden, I managed a couple of tolerable captures.