Whooooo are youuuuu??

As Mom and I returned from a walk, we heard our resident flock of chickadees raising the roof from the side yard. Walking down the hill into the yard, we commented on what a happy racket they were making. Chickadees were decorating the neighbor's almost-dead-rhody like a late Christmas display. Boy, were ever wrong about what they were talking about!

I headed into the house while Mom took a closer look at the commotion. Calling me out of the house, she said, "Take a look at this! I think it's an owl, that has the tweeties so upset!"

Sure enough, it was an owl. Broad daylight. A very SMALL owl. All fluffed up, trying to look like a big guy. Those chickadees were NOT going to leave him in peace!

He wasn't a Screech owl. He wasn't a Saw-Whet owl. What WAS he?? That barred tail was a good clue, along with yellow beak and speckled head.

A consultation with our Sibley's bird book informed us we had a Northern Pygmy Owl visiting our neighborhood! Only 6.75" long weighing a mere 2.5 ounces, this ferocious diminutive hunter has been known to take down birds as large as pigeons. Glad he's not any bigger...

According to Sibley, these little guys are usually perched inconspicuously within a canopy of leaves. And they can often be located by watching for scolding songbirds.

I would say that is an accurate statement. S0 would the chickadees.

Oh yeah - this was another Life Bird for both Mom and me!