A Half a day in the life of an Eastern Screech Owl. (Six images, from daytime sleeping, then off to the hunt at dusk)

For the past 3 - 4 years, the Screech Owl has been using this roosting hole, alternating between it and several other holes. Presently it has been roosting at this location every day for about a week. It stays perched with its eyes shut for most of the day and doesn't seem to be disturbed by nearby photographers, nor by squirrels and/or small birds approaching it to within inches. On this particular day, I first photographed it around mid-day. I then went home, but returned around 6:00 PM to observe its behaviour at the approach of dusk.

Top Image: 12:30 PM, The Owl in its customary spot, mostly with closed eyes. Occasionally it might perch on the elevated ledge on its left side.


6:26 PM, the Owl seems to be waking up as it moves its head a bit and opens its eyes slightly. Then it spits out a huge pellet, after which it goes back to sleep.


6:46 PM, The sun is just setting below the trees. Rays of golden light shine on the Owl, almost giving it the appearance of a Red - morph Screech.


7:38 PM, The Owl starts to shift around a bit on the spot, then moves to the higher ledge to its left. It then does a quick wing-stretch.


7:39 PM, after some more quick on the spot shifting with eyes wide open and looking up into the distance the Owl suddenly takes off, like a rocket, towards a distant perch.


7:42 PM, A low-light shot, at ISO 7200, with the Owl perched at the end of a broken off branch.

Note my final few shots were taken at ISO 20,000 as the light was fading fast. These are not included here as they are very grainy/noisy.