Western Screech Owl

Yesterday afternoon while we were out in the back yard we happened to look up into one of the palo verde trees and saw this little guy (or gal). Yep, right there just feet away was our own little Western screech owl. I say "our" because this owl has lived in our yard or immediate area for a number of years.

We hear it in the early evening in both the spring and fall when the windows are open, and last fall we happened to catch mom teaching her owlet to fly.

We spent a few minutes watching the owl and watched it silently fly off to another tree a bit later; apparently we disturbed it a bit with our attempts at picture taking.

Today, I went back out to the tree and it was right back in the same place. So it looks like this palo verde tree might be its daytime roost. I hope so.

Have fun finding the wildlife in your backyard.