We had just started our hike at Halpata Tastanaki Preserve when my hubby said, Do you hear that?
So we stopped in our tracks and listened!
There was a Great Horned Owl nearby!
REALLY close by!
And with his (my hubby's) good hearing AND good seeing, he spotted it in one of the trees right next to the trail
We've never seen one in the wild like this before! And at 1 pm in the afternoon! On a week day! heehee!
Aren't his feathers gorgeous! They look like they have been knitted in place!
It was thrilling. We had to really work to get our cameras to see up into the dark Live Oak tree so the photos are a little odd. But hubby did a better job than I did. Mine were mostly in silhouette. But I got the tree! (I don't think you can see him in the tree though! He was flying away!)
They ran alongside us in the tall grasses and then crossed the trail in front of us.
It's been a great week for amazing sightings!
And we are getting close to our goal of 150 hikes this year! VERY close!
What have you seen this week? The bird feeders are very active too now that chilly weather has settled in.
49 comments:
...beautiful images! I see lots of deer, but never an owl!
I haven't seen as much as you have, my dear. I've basically seen the inside of my house & that's about it. But that's ok because I see the great outdoors through your eyes. Thank you for that. ~Andrea XOXO
You got some great shots of that owl!
Hello, Diane
Beautiful captures of the Great Horned Owl. It is always awesome to see an owl in the wild and on your hikes. Love the sweet deer too. Great post and photos. Thank you for linking up and sharing your post! Take care, have a happy weekend! PS, thanks for leaving me a comment.
Beautiful captures, especially that first one!
Well done! How thrilling! The deer are nice, too. 🦉🦌
You're so lucky to have seen such beauty! That owl is amazing. We never see owls around here, but we hear them sometimes. The deer are so lovely!
Wow, how exciting. Your owl is beautiful. I have been a slug lately. Not sure why since it has been so pretty. Usually walk with my hubby but his hip has gotten so bad. He is in line to get a new one. I did force myself to walk around the neighborhood yesterday. You inspire me!
Your owl photos really are spectacular! I love owls, but as you say, they are hard to spot.
be safe... mae at maefood.blogspot.com
I am almost as excited as you were, and i wasn't even there. wow and wow again, he did a super job capturing this beautiful guy way up in that tree. it is thrilling to think of seeing all these critters here in FL in the middle of the day
Wow! Great photos. You've captured some neat owl pictures. His eyes half closed is precious. I love you your blog banner, very festive for this time of year. Santa's reindeer vacationing in Florida disguised as deer until Christmas Eve. lol
What treat to spot the owl! I like it so much.
All the best.
Your owl photos are gorgeous! Beautiful captures!
Thanks for visiting my blog!
Enjoy the season and stay safe!
You have had a great year for owls; first the Barred Owl and now the Great Horned.
The owl.... Gorgeous....
😊🎄😊🎄😊
Great and beautiful shots of the owl. Nice new header too.
Have a wonderful weekend.
Wow! An Owl and deer in the same day ~ Beautiful photos of both ~ I would be thrilled to see an owl too and get to photography it would be a bonus ~
Live each moment with love,
A ShutterBug Explores,
aka (A Creative Harbor)
No hikes here but I did post farm photos on Friday. That owl is AMAZING! Beautiful. Thanks for sharing!!
Diane, Those are the best pictures of the owl. I thought he looked like he was wearing a little sweater before I even read what you wrote about knitted feathers. LOL. I love the deer also. Great sightings. Blessings , xoxo, love, Susie
The photos are so impressive. I would love to see that own and have that experience!
Those are awesome photos of the owl. Just beautiful. I love the deer too. I have a soft spot in my heart for them. This was a fantastic week for you! Enjoy your day, hugs, Edna B.
They are BEAUTIFUL birds and your photos are gorgeous! I never seem to find owls on my prowls...:)jp
Owls are just fascinating to me Diane. Thanks or sharing the photos.
Oh wow, these photos are amazing. How exciting spotting the owl. I've never seen one other than in pictures.
That owl is simply gorgeous. Great photos and such a fun sighting.
The owl is amazing! I envy you having seen it!
What an exciting capture! Wonderful photos of a bird I would only wish to see. I also enjoyed your last post and seeing your touches of Christmas. Lovely memories too.
you are so lucky to be physically able to hike so often. beautiful images of the owl, i often hear my birds before i see them, i always know when the woodpeckers are feasting at the feeders!!
i LOVE seeing the deer, really pretty pictures of them!!
Wonderful owl! I love the last photo too.
Just one word on sighting your owl, deer and nearing your hiking goal...TERRIFIC!
Thank you very much for stopping by IRBB to share your link to this post!
~Anni
Preciosos avistamientos, me han gustado mucho. Besos.
Preciosas fotografías,sobre todo las del búho!!!!
An owl day is always a special one. I love the Great-horned Owl pictures Diane.
This makes the hike all the more worth while. I use to have a horned owl that live in a tree next to my house. They are amazing.
Such magnificent photos!!! I do so enjoy this visit!
At first I thought: Wow that new header photo is fabulous. Then I saw the Great Horned Owl, and I was speechless!
Oh, Wow! I hardly ever see Owls - great photos!
Have a blessed day!
How amazing to see all you did! That owl!!! Oh, my!!!
I'm so happy God put them there for you because he knew how much you would enjoy seeing them.
That owl sighting was amazing. My daughter saw one in her tree in Atlanta during the day recently. She was thrilled. Happy hiking, my friend. xo Laura
Oh, my he is gorgeous and your photos are stunning. I've only seen one twice in my life. As a child, in the center of my home town, a great horned owl landed on a porch pedestal across the street---HE WAS HUGE< but I was only 7-8...and I was sitting on my front porch, playing with dolls and he watched me for what seemed a long time, and then opened his HUGE wings and flew away...I was breathless at how big he was and always wondered where he went. HUGS< how fun to have a chance to see one, more than once! Sandi
Amazing award winning capture! He is gorgeous--such a lovely early Christmas present for you. We haven't seen one in ages.
Diane, oh what a glorious colorful owl. Thank you so much for sharing your hikes with us! How sweet to encounter these animal friends. And thank you so much for your Christmas card. ♥
LOVE the photos of the owl! We saw one on the peak of our roof several years ago, and when he took off, he was so silent, you couldn't hear a thing!
Those owl pictures are amazing! How lucky to see one and in the middle of the day. Hope you've had a great weekend.
That owl is a real beauty and yes, with gorgeous feathers. Nice photo of the trees and so rewarding to see the deer at the end of your hike. Happy new week.
now, that´s a great hike. Both the owl encounter and the sweet deer´s. Happy to see the deer found it´s way to your blog header :)
I have not seen much this week, it has been raining for almost three weeks :( Too dark and wet.
Take care!
AMAZING!!! The owl photos are amazing. Well done. I love the eyes of the owl.
Wow wow and double wow! How absolutely wonderful! I love this owl ...and I think the pictures are great. Your hikes are the best! I’m catching up and loving all your posts I missed, but just trying not to drive you nuts with a long comment on each one. Please know They are all more than worthy of one .
What a handsome Owl. Yes, his feathers are beautiful. They look like a big knitted blanket. That's incredible.
~Sheri
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