Today was a lucky bird kind of day. And I didn’t even step outside. Mid-day I spotted a Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus) in one of the huge oak trees in front of my cabin. Not at all unusual here, but to see one, a HUGE and BEAUTIFUL bird, is to stop everything to admire the moment. As you can see, I did manage to get a photo. Glad I could at least record the moment.

Then in the middle of the afternoon I went upstairs to my bedroom and found, looking in through the window at me, a charming Barred Owl (Strix varia), sitting in a Tulip Poplar Tree. A tree that had been destined to be cut down for the sake of ultimate fire safety. Now, that tree will be saved. My owls must have a perch.

The owl was generous with its time, turning its head as if doing yoga. Making me wish I could do the same. Then it was off, to find another perch, perhaps where there was not a camera trained in on its every move.

But outside is where I should have been. Hiking up the mountain. Putting in more miles. Taking in more of Mother Nature’s world. Another day, another year, I was doing just that, and stumbled upon this. Another Barred Owl. A mom or dad, watching over the little one.

The little one, looking so sweet. Oh, I certainly could feel those EYES of mom or dad, perhaps thirty feet away. Staring DOWN at me. For sure another lucky bird day.