Barred Owl, Strix varia - II

I had spotted the owl whose photo I posted yesterday and was so intent on getting his photograph before he flew away that I missed this other owl (mate??) that was much closer but somewhat hidden by foliage, and when walking slowly forward but toward the side (hoping the motion somewhat away from directly toward the first bird would not seem threatening) I did spook this lovely large guy which flew a little deeper into the wood then landed facing me.  I used the 24x zoom to get the photograph, then cropped it to the present size which explains the lack of good detail - but I still like this amazing Barred Owl.

Barred Owl, Strix varia - I feel certain that I have posted photographs of this owl before misidentified as a Barn owl

yes - I just checked it out and it was both on 18 March and 19 March - sorry about that but I flub up every now and again on things like that but I try to get them rectified when I know about it - in this case it was just my mind thinking about my posts as I looked through one of my bird books and came across the owl section. 

The Old Mill Home

Plain Titmouse, Parus inornatus ???

The 'Plain' Titmouse supposedly ranges in the southwest of the United States but this guy has no real shadings of colour and is also decidedly - half inch to an inch - smaller than the eastern 'Tuffed' Titmouse so I will make my call for the 'Plain' Jane species

Osprey, Pandion haliaetus

  I could possibly be wrong as Osprey generally fly over water and hover when they spot fish while Eagles often roost while scanning water but neither photograph gives enough detail to make positive identification.  I do know that there is an Osprey in this broad general vicinity that hovers for awhile then roosts to rest up it seems - and digitally enlarging the photograph gives no more clue than here.  Relative estimated size and the previous sightings of roosting Osprey give me the impetus to call this in favor of the Osprey - if I later get more information that contradicts this I will update this post to reflect that information.

Feeding Behavior - Flies slowly over water, pausing to hover when fish spotted below; if fish is close enough to surface, the Osprey plunges feet-first, grasping prey in its talons.

Eggs - 3, sometimes 2-4. Creamy white, blotched with brown. Incubation is by both parents but mostly by female, about 38 days. Young: Female remains with young most of time at first, sheltering them from sun and rain; male brings fish, female feeds them to young. Age of young at first flight averages about 51-54 days. 1 brood per year.

Young - Female remains with young most of time at first, sheltering them from sun and rain; male brings fish, female feeds them to young. Age of young at first flight averages about 51-54 days. 1 brood per year.

Diet - Almost entirely fish. Typically feeds on fish 4-12" long. Type of fish involved varies with region; concentrates on species common in each locale, such as flounder, smelt, mullet, bullhead, sucker, gizzard shad. Aside from fish, rarely eats small mammals, birds, or reptiles, perhaps mainly when fish are scarce.

Nesting - Courtship displays include pair circling high together; male may fly high and then dive repeatedly in vicinity of nest site, often carrying a fish or stick. Nest site is usually on top of large tree (often with dead or broken top) not far from water. Also nests on utility poles, duck blinds, other structures, including poles put up for them. May nest on ground on small islands, or on cliffs or giant cactus in western Mexico. Site typically very open to sky. Nest (built by both sexes) is bulky pile of sticks, lined with smaller materials. Birds may use same nest for years, adding material each year, so that nest becomes huge. 

http://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/osprey