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WIW: Birding in the wind, plus baby owls

JAileen

Veteran

We’re forecasted to have 45 MPH winds this afternoon. This morning it was just gusty. We were in a county park with hiking trails. The Great Horned owls were way way up high. We saw the mother and three babies. It’s interesting to see their feathers in various stages of development. In #3 you can see the mother’s talons. Scary!

WIW:
Jacket - Eddie Bauer
Pants - Columbia
Shoes - Salomon
Hat - Tahoe Institute for Natural Science

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35 replies

Latest reply was from CocoLion

Jane

Veteran

You look so stylish, the navy and kharki look super. The owls are beautiful. The feathers on the mum are stunning. Your eyesight and sense of judgement as to when to really closely look must be very good.

kellygirl

Veteran

Omg, they are so cute! You look fab out in the wild too! It's been gusty down here too. Strange spring we're having.

slim cat

Veteran

You look color coordinated and comfy - love the pop of bright colors on the hat!
The owl pictures are great - especially mother owl ( fierce talons )!

Anonymous

Your outfit looks fabulous. Soft natural colors that will not scare away the birds but still look warm and approachable. The owls are such a treat. Those talons! Trails here were closed but are cautiously being reopened with lots of reminders to stay on the trail even when encountering other hikers. Masks are a must because everybody and their extended family and dogs are out there with you..

Anonymous

Awwww Love the owls and your color combo!
So tired of wind! Everyday we have wind and it's like biking through mud :/

Anonymous

You have me so interested in birding that I ordered binoculars last week. The binoculars should arrive mid-week.

It seems like all I need are binoculars, hat, and sturdy hiking shoes. Got everything except the binoculars.

Thank you for introducing me to a new hobby.

JAileen

Veteran

Jane, thank you. My eyes really aren’t that great! I took the pictures with a telephoto lens, and until I get home, I can’t tell how they turned out. I should take reading glasses with me.

Kelly, thank you. Several years ago we found a baby great horned owl alone and took it to a rescue center. I had it sitting in my lap for a half hour or so. It was a little scary. Their beak and talons are like their mother’s.

Slim cat, thank you. The hat has a western tanager embroidered on it.

Joy, thank you. We forgot masks, but kept our social distance with everyone.

Suntiger, thank you. This is one of the windiest places I've ever lived. We have wind every afternoon until sunset. But today’s wind is related to a storm. The gusts in the park made me nervous because the trees the owls were in were decrepit. I expected them to go down any moment.

Sterling, that is fabulous! Do you have a guide? They have actual books of course, but also apps for your phone. We’ve been using Sibley’s guides which are really good. I like the book because reading on the phone in the sun is hard for me. But the apps have sounds, so each has advantages. I hope you enjoy your new hobby!

Anonymous

The expression on your face is what I aspire to achieve when I get dressed. Calm, confident, completely able to focus on activities rather than myself.

Thank you for the photos, there's a pair of Barred Owls trilling at midnight in my neighborhood but I never see them!

Helena

Veteran

Amazing photos!

The fit of the jacket is perfect.

Carla

Veteran

I so enjoy your birding stories, JAileen! DH put up a feeder this winter, along with a log drilled with holes into which he puts a suet mixture of his own recipe - bacon fat, peanut butter, oats, bird seed, raisins.

We got the usual suspects (chickadees, juncos, cardinals, the occasional blue jay, wild turkey, and my favourites - mourning doves) until about two weeks ago. As birds migrate over the Great Lakes, we are getting some interesting tourists. Some ordinary, but some quite remarkable! Rose breasted grosbeak, indigo bunting, American goldfinch, downy woodpecker, red breasted nuthatch, white crowned sparrow). A robin is building condos under out deck for the third year in a row. It likes the long dry leaves from last year’s day lilies.

On a walk we discovered a low hanging nest in some cedars. A very precarious choice for a home. I think we are 10 days to 2 weeks behind last year’s spring.

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Jenni NZ

Veteran

Oh the baby owls are so cute I melt! Used to love reading the book Owl Babies to our children. You look great too J’Aileen x

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Fantastic!

JAileen

Veteran

Phoebe, thank you. I hope you finally get to see the barred owl. A month or so ago I was in a zoom meeting when my husband mentioned that a great horned owl was on top of a power pole in our back yard! We had been hearing it for ages, but had never seen it in our yard. Of course I had to get up to see it.

Toronto girl, thank you. I love this jacket, but I’ve worn it so much that my binoculars have pilled the fabric.

Carla, thank you. Our cancelled trip in April would have been to the Texas Gulf Coast, for the Spring migration. If you get there at the right time, migrants practically fall out of the sky, aiming for the small cluster of trees. The variety of birds you might see in a single tree is mind boggling.

Jenni, thank you. Owls are really fascinating, aren’t they?

Shevia, thank you.

delurked

Veteran

Love these pics. I like the olive jacket for you, plus the gear that looks well fitting and appropriate. And how cute is this little baby!

LaPed

Veteran

Great owl shots, and I love your outfit. Goes perfectly with the landscape.

I'm bad about bringing masks when we go for hikes. It's rare we see anyone on the trails near our house and we're been avoiding higher traffic trails especially on weekends and other peak usage hours. So we've just been tying bandanas and wearing them round our necks and then pulling them up if need be. It feels more polite than having nothing, but more practical than a mask.

avicennia

Veteran

Excellent photos and the perfect outfit! I’ve been enjoying a vermillion flycatcher in the patio lately.

Windchime

Veteran

Your outfit looks perfect for hiking and birdwatching. I’ve not yet seen an owl except in a cage at the Nature Center. I hear great horned owls during the night occasionally and would love to see one.

Anonymous

A guide! I'll research guides. Thank you for the tip.

JAileen

Veteran

Delurked, thank you. The babies look bigger than their mother because of their down.

LaP, thank you. I often take a bandana for birding. They really help protect the back of my neck from the various straps. But this was a quick little trip, and I just forgot. I like a buff, too, but it’s warmed up a little for that.

Avicennia, thank you. You’re so lucky to have such a fabulous bird in your yard!

Windchime, thank you. This particular spot has had owls nest there for several years. They are hard to find, though. You can look at them, look away, and then you can’t find them again. Mother Nature’s camo is very effective!

Sterling, good luck!

Preppy Pear

Veteran

Wow! Amazing owl pics - thanks for sharing these. Stay high up in that tree, mother owl - those are not talons I want to see up close without the benefit of the the telephoto lens! You look comfortable and stylish for the outdoors, as always - I really like that jacket.

Christina F.

Veteran

That's some stylish gear!

Thanks for sharing the owls. am dipping my toe into birding in the North Woods of Central Park. I am not a morning person but always felt this was inevitable, since I like birds and am good at spotting things. We have a surprising number of birds here, including red tail hawks (had one eating a pigeon on my fire escape once).

JAileen

Veteran

Preppy Pear, thank you. The jacket is nice because it stretches, but pockets are kind of small. I think EB is discontinuing it.

Christina, thank you. Have you seen the documentary about birding in Central Park? “Birders: The Central Park Effect” Right now is probably a good time because it’s the spring migration, although maybe the tail end.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

You are the most stylish and fab bird watcher I know!

unfrumped

Veteran

Love the sporty outdoor outfit and the owls--how "great".

JamC

Veteran

JAileen,
You look fab for your outdoor adventures! Similar to my hiking gear for long walks in the woods. However, your jacket looks much better than my usual, love all the pockets and was wondering what fabric is it made of. Like others, I hear birds often, see them occasionally but am interested in learning more. I will look into the Sibley’s apps because I think hearing the sounds over and over will be really useful! Can you share info on your choice of binoculars?

JAileen

Veteran

Angie, thank you.

Unfrumped, thank you.

JamC, thank you. The jacket is nylon and spandex. It feels great, but my binocular strap has rubbed the front of it. I have several pairs of binoculars. These are Zeiss, but I also have Leica and Nikon. The Nikons are good basic ones - good quality but not too expensive. The Leicas I have are compact, and nice to take on a non birding trip. I can fit them in my purse and take them when I go to our local Philharmonic. These Zeiss are pricy, but excellent quality. All of mine are ten power. My husband likes eight power.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

You look fab for your outing -- very professional! And just look at those baby owls! Fantastic photos. It must be such a thrill to get such terrific shots.

Jenn

(website)

Veteran

Squeee! I'm sorry, too busy looking at baby owls to notice your outfit.

JAileen

Veteran

Suz, thank you. Last year I upgraded my camera. Rather, my husband upgraded it for me, after hearing me complain about my lousy pictures. He uses one of those giant and heavy lenses. My lens is a telephoto, but not too heavy.

Jenn, I know. This is really all about the owls.

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