Well hoo hoo do we have here? I was ecstatic to see this handsome fellow yesterday after disappearing for several months. Taken at my favorite great horned owl spot, I believe this is the male.
Despite checking many times, I haven’t seen them since last summer after their little ones fledged. At about that time, some Cooper’s hawks that had established their own nest in the area and began hassling the owls. I was concerned the hawks had chased them away for good but, thankfully, it appears not.
While I was not able to spot the female, I suspect she is already down in the nearby tree cavity, sitting on eggs. With any luck, the pair and their little ones will give me some good photo ops in the months to come.
