The weather has warmed and so for the first time in February I took a walk into our forest in the late afternoon. With the snow being knee deep I traveled light. Binoculars and mobile phone only.
Within 20 minutes I spotted a Eurasian Pygmy Owl (Glaucidium passerinum) at the top of a tall pine. I had to get closer to figure out that the owl’s back was to me. I could see it’s ‘false face’ which is a white half collar on the back of the neck used to deter predators.
The owl was very calm. It casually viewed it’s territory. Then came the brief call from a second Pygmy. The forest goblin I had in my binoculars did not respond but was happy to be watched for an age by me before I had to leave it and get home as darkness fell.
Here’s my camera phone snap.
Here it is zoomed in on the computer.
Hope to see it again soon with Kristin and her big Nikon camera!
Not the best photo but laying in the snow with total silence, looking up at Europe’s smallest owl – what a great experience.