Finally, the two owlets at the Rio Grande Nature Center in the Great Horned Owl nest made an appearance for me! Rumor has it they were first seen, or at least one of them, two weeks ago, but this morning after hanging around looking up at the nest for a few minutes, they popped out to say hello, so here’s a couple of pictures of them.
Owlets
Another view
Owlets
This next picture just has the one, with the other burrowed down under Mom.
Owlet
What fun! Actually, started out this morning in Las Huertas canyon, but it was a little too early and cool for birds there (other than a Golden Eagle – I think – looked a lot like a Red-tailed Hawk but nearly twice as big, as he flew from a pinon and on down the road. Will definitely return there as it looks like excellent habitat, but presently the parking area at the picnic ground is still closed for construction. On the way back, I first checked in with the Great Horned Owl near the Open Space Visitor Center.
Great Horned Owl
She’s still hunkered down in her nest, so my guess is nothing has hatched there yet. Then over to the Rio Grande Nature Center where I first had to be repeatedly scolded by Mrs. Cooper’s Hawk who’s got a nest near that of the Great Horned Owl.
Cooper's Hawk
Seeing those little owlets, though, definitely made my day. Also ran into Jennifer, our visitor from Wisconsin, who must be having a better birding trip than she expected after getting those owlets on her list too.
Natural Moments 