R: California Fuchsia.
Today I did a bit of Naturing and whole lotta Owling in my backyard.
And it feels like it’s been FOREVER. I know I keep saying that lately. But it’s really truly true this time. I had a really big deal program for work (Find Your Biobliss with Bay Nature!). Brian’s mom was in town for a week. Then we went to Ashland, where we actually went Naturing around Green Springs Mountain. But we got home far too late for any posting. Bottom line is IT’S BEEN FOREVER. AND I’M NOT PROUD OF THAT.
I really miss writing down my thoughts and editing my photos and thinking about what I’ve seen in nature as much as I love being out there. True story.
So. Today. I had A REQUEST. For some Owl Witchery. Bob and Juli had a mother and young son attend one of their birding trips recentlyish. The son had not seen an Owl yet. And really wanted to. And Bob knew to ask me for such a thing. So we scheduled today for some Owling with them all.
Now, I haven’t been as frequent with my visits with the Great Horned Owls of the East lately. And they’ve KINDA been all over the place when I HAVE gone. So I was honestly just HOPING it’d all work out. And that I wouldn’t disappoint a young boy that so wanted to see an Owl.
I planned on heading out early. Doing some checks on my Owls. Then perhaps the Greatest Hits (since I’ll have no time for Naturing time due to an acting gig Monday night), before meeting up with not only those I made Owling plans with but also with an NPS Intern (Joe) who supported my Bay Nature Biobliss program. And also wanted to see Owls.
I arrived at the Monarch Bear Grove to find what seemed like THOUSANDS of California Oak Moths swarming the Oaks! I believe this happens twice a year? At least? And it is like FLIPPIN’ MAGIC. They are EVERYWHERE. Stood at the start of the MBG and just watched them all for some time. Love them so when they all bombard the park like this!
After stopping to take a photo of an Eastern Gray Squirrel adorably eating something with both paws, I arrived at the West entrance to the AIDS Memorial Grove. While I haven’t seen a GHO there (the Youngest Owlet) in a bit, it’s now somewhere I have to always check. I started down the creek trail and stopped in the clearing to take a look around.
A woman from the opposite end walked up and asked me, “Looking for The Owl?” To which I replied, “Just started looking!” She pointed up and behind me, and there was a GHO! Just above the trail. SO CLOSE. Youngest Owlet, I guess! It was awake. Did a bit of stretching. A yawn. Gave me a death ray stare (a female, maybe??). And went back to dozing.
YAY! One Owl spotted!! Relayed the good news to those coming up for Owling. And went on my way to try to find others.
Noted a completely random furry tail of whoknowswhat on the way up the Owl Nursery Trail but found no Owl up there or on the Slime Mold Lab Trail. So I wandered over to the CAS. Where I also found no Owl whatsoever. But Red-flowering Currant is flippin’ BLOOMING. And something that might be Blue Hibiscus is randomly growing in the CAS Botanical Garden? A California Towhee, Brown Creeper, my first Yellow-rumped Warbler of the season, and a California Scrub-Jay all kept me company for a spell.
Stopped briefly at Anne’s Garden to admire the Love-in-a-Mist and Tickweed before stopping to adore the Turk’s Cap, Wart-leaved Ceanothus, and California Fuchsia along Pelosi Dr. All while failing to see any GHOs in the process.
Didn’t really have time to go elsehwere, so back to the Slime Mold Lab Trail, where I just stood and watched all the birds making their way through the Coast Live Oaks. I love that I can almost always count on that as sunset approaches on that trail. Heard a Ruby-crowned Kinglet. Saw some Townsend’s Warblers. And a Hutton’s Vireo. And was serenaded by Golden-crowned Sparrows, which is a song I’m absolutely smitten with. And is such a lovely welcoming into a new season.
It was about time to meet up for Owling. And I wanted to check to see that the Youngest Owlet was still there. I’d texted Miller to let him know about the Owl, since it was in a much better place to view than his last time. And he was able to meet up with me! Showed him the Owl, which had moved to a tree off trail but was still in a great spot to see. Totally unobstructed. And good light on it. Left him to meet up with others. Joe arrived. Showed him the Owl and returned to meet up with others. The rest arrived. And showed them the Owl. And little Zayn managed to finally see AN OWL. All was right with the world.
And then I heard A HOOT. Bob heard it, too. And I went to investigate! Now, get this. The hoot was coming from the maintenance yard wall. And there, in a Coast Live Oak on the other side of the wall, was ANOTHER GHO. Low hoot. So I figured it was Pa Owl! And it was at FLIPPIN’ EYE HEIGHT and quite close. I should really charge for this, folks.
Hurried back, showed Miller and Joe, then got the others, and we spent good quality time in the new spot. Then, ANOTHER GHO was spotted in the same dang tree. Just above. And it turned out the higher up Owl was doing the low hoot! The one below eventually joined in with a high hoot. And the roles reversed! Pa Owl was above, with Ma Owl below!
BUT, WAIT. Ma Owl had no injury on her face. AND, Ma Owl is often above Pa Owl when they’re in the same tree. Were these the Eldest and Middle Owlets? Hooting together?? IT WAS MYSTIFYING.
BUT, WAIT. ANOTHER HOOT, higher in pitch, started coming from back where Youngest Owlet was. Hurried over there. Still there. Not appearing to hoot. But a high hoot was nearby. Maybe same tree?? We ultimately were hearing FOUR OWLS there!
Miller had left. And everyone else started heading out. The mosquitoes were becoming more active. And it was getting dark. So they all left. And I stayed. I’m used to sticking around til they fly off. So I did.
Well, first I showed an older woman who came into the area wondering if Owls were around to see the first Owlet. Gave her the updates on the other GHOs in the area and left to find the ones I was hearing further East.
I soon found that a male and female were near the middle entrance to Pelosi Dr. The male was somewhere in the Monterey Cypresses there and soon flew out across the lawn and ended up at the top of the tallest trees on the South side. But the female was across the street! Somewhere high up in a super tall Cypress tree. Out of view.
I stood below it, looking up. Hoping to see some sign of what I presumed was Ma Owl. With Pa Owl across the way. Makes sense they’d be closer to the Lily Pond. Their home base area.
But a young man walked up and started asking me about the GHOs. And I, of course, was happy to share what I knew. He thanked me in the end and headed out. But I couldn’t hear Ma Owl anymore. Pa Owl was still hooting in the distance. And the darkness was my cue to finally leave. Even though I wasn’t able to locate where they all headed out to.
HOWEVER. It was SUCH A SUCCESS. I believe I heard/saw ALL FIVE of the Great Horned Owls of the East tonight. I believe they are all still in the area. The Owlets have not left. This is what I’ve concluded. I was also able to enable six people I knew and many more people I didn’t know to see GHOs tonight. I feel like I’m doing a pretty fantastic job at being the very unofficial Owl Docent of GGPark East right now. I should take tips!
