Western Screech-Owl

Western Screech-Owl from 072511

Western Screech-Owl

Western Screech-Owl

Western Screech-Owl

Tonight was the night. After not seeing either parent or owlets all day, finally an owlet appeared at 4PM. After 8PM we were seeing both owlets and a parent, and at 9:24 PM an owlet flew about 5 feet, and the other owlet then flew a few minutes later.

Western Screech_Owls

They just keep getting cuter.

Western Screech-Owls

The adult(s) and two owlets were visible intermittently throughout the day, and then continuously in the evening.

Western Screech-Owlets

Today the owlets came out several times during the day, occasionally accompanied by a parent.

Owlets!

The owlets are here! After seeing a parent at the nest hole most of the past few days, we assumed the owlets would soon show themselves, and today was the day. We saw just these 2. After about 30 minutes they went back down into the nest hole and shortly afterwards a parent popped up and stayed there most of the day.

Western Screech-Owl

3 years ago when they nested in this same tree, the owlets fledged on June 26. We were concerned that this year with our being in NY from June 25 through July 3 that we would miss them, but it looks like with the cold spring that the owls adjusted their schedule accordingly. We saw this adult in the hole for an extended period today, but thus far no owlets have been seen.