In more than two years in Utah, I’ve only seen one species of owl. I saw it again today—not only the same species, I might add, but very possibly the same individual bird.
I’m talking about a Northern Pygmy Owl. Saw one today about a hundred feet from where I first encountered one last November. (Saw what I presume was the same owl a couple of times not long after that, in the same general area.) Since these fierce little birds live only three years or so, it might be a different one, I suppose—but they’re uncommon at such a low elevation.
“Eyes” on the back of the owl’s head.
One thing I documented this time around—hiking in a graupel shower with dog—was this species “eyes” in the back of its head, thought to be intended to confound mobbing songbirds). They really do look like eyes.
Today’s wintry mix will have passed by tomorrow, I hear. Wonder what’ll turn up in the morning.
Grandeur Peak Area List At 8:47 a.m. (9:47 MDT), I hiked a few hundred feet up a mountain.
Edit (02/21/2022): I’ve been informed that this is without a doubt a Western Screech Owl. A lifer for me!
I’d been angling for a photo of silent chickadees, as dog and I ascended the snowy trail up wooded Coyote Canyon, when the little birds zipped up ahead and began to call and scold. That’s when I noticed a larger bird shoot down through the tangles to my left to a perch. I aimed my camera at it and saw it was a small owl—but I couldn’t focus because of all the leaves and twigs between us. Again and again I tried, to no avail.
Wish I’d thought to grab my binoculars instead, ’cause then I might’ve managed an ID.
Since this was near the place I saw a Northern Pygmy Owl back in November, I assumed that’s what it was. But in looking at the blurry photos later, I couldn’t be sure. Its face seems to resemble a Northern Saw-whet Owl, but at the time (and in the photos), it looks like this bird has a long tail (the mark of a pygmy owl).
Still kind of leaning toward the latter—but I guess I’ll never know.
Grandeur Peak Area List Beginning at 8:57 a.m. (MST), I hiked several hundred feet up a mountain.
The temperature dipped last night, so dog and I enjoyed a brisk, bracing hike. The usually species, mostly—including a young Mountain Cottontail—but my first batch of juncos sparked my interest. They seemed a little more upset with our approach than usual (usually they flit away). I tried to keep track, hoping for a photo.
Saw movement in a juniper ahead of us, pointed my camera in that direction, and saw a cool-looking unfamiliar bird. Some kind of very small hawk or owl. My first Utah owl. I had no idea what it was. I thought perhaps a saw-whet (which species I’ve heard but not seen in person), but the tail seemed too long. Got a bunch of pics and figured I’d look it up when we got back home.
Which I did. My first-ever Northern Pygmy Owl. A tiny terror.
Been a while since I’ve had a lifer. I’ve saved the memory of its sighting for recall in the future.
Grandeur Peak Area List Beginning at 8:17 a.m. (MST), I hiked a few hundred feet up a mountain.
