R: Pa Owl, in the fakenestree.
Today I had just enough time to check in on my owls. But it was a nice way to get back into Naturing in my backyard in the new year.
I was indecisive about just where to start. It’s been so long since I’ve seen any of the Great Horned Owls of the East. But I had a little time before a half hour before sunset, so I did a quick stroll through the CAS Botanical Garden.
And found baby blooms of Blueblossom and Red-flowering Currant, while Coffeeberry berries continued to ripen.
And then I heard a HIGH HOOT. From across the street. She’s still there! AMAZING. Since it was going to be a while before she’d start to move, I kept quick strolling through the garden. Noting a California Scrub-Jay hiding in the bare California Buckeye tree. And bits of Wartleaf Ceanothus coming out. And Coast Silk Tassel emerging.
She kept hooting when I was done, and I managed to determine the Monterey Cypress she was in. Had a hard time finding her exactly, but in my search I found a number of adorable Chip Cherries mushrooms amongst the grass below. And even MORE numbers of some kind of Peziza Cup mushroom, possibly Blistered Cup? In SO MANY places, scattered here and there next to a Eucalyptus tree and new plantings from last year. Fun!
Tried one more angle, and BOOM. There she was! Just high hooting away. At one point, I thought I heard a male GHO hooting from somewhere near the Owl Nursery. I was about to investigate when one of the nicest folks saw me from across the street. Gina, an incredible volunteer (CAS, SFBG, Presidio) that I knew from volunteering in the Botany department at CAS back in ’23, came over and chatted with me about Owls and the department and my upcoming Fungi Walk program. What a treat to happen to run into her.
On my way to the Owl Nursery, I had to stop and admire a preciously pink Rose. Maybe a California Wild Rose?
Approached the Slime Mold Lab Trail, and it’s still blocked off from fallen tree parts. But I immediately heard A HOOT. And there was Pa Owl! In the somewhat damaged fakenesttree! He preened a little, looked at me, then soon flew off. Somewhere Southeast? Hard to tell.
I followed, stopping to note a couple darling Red Edge Brittlestems (?) but couldn’t find him. But did continue to hear her hoot. Then what sounded like him hooting not too far from her. Walked along the South Ridge Trail, JUST in case he was there. NOPE. But as I headed into the AIDS Memorial Grove, I heard him. And then I heard her. They were duet hooting! Somewhere over the creek trail.
But, wait. There was ANOTHER. Ok, so THREE. Two males and one female. Huh!
Couldn’t see them from the creek, so I kept going up. Then it sounded like two were duet hooting in those Coast Live Oaks along the maintenance yard wall. As I approached, there was someone photographing the pair. And as I got close, ANOTHER GHO flew in! But it was allofasudden, and I couldn’t tell what happened. Because I got a little closer, AND ALL THREE FLEW OUT.
Okokok, so this was disheartening. Maybe two people was just TOO MUCH, given all THREE GHOs were about to get into it. Maybe it was Ma and Pa Owl? About to chase off the third?
We found her. Hidden in the trees, just West. Close to the trail. And then she flew back into the Oaks. Continued to hoot. While facing us on the trail.
Now, I got TOTAL CRAP photos of the GHOs. It was SO FOGGY that I’m kind of amazed anything I captured was recognizable.
Then ANOTHER MALE starting hooting. Closer to us. OK, so there were FOUR. Two males and two females. WHA???
The photographer said that this week they’d been all over the place. Maybe looking for potential nests?
She hopped a little away, facing the maintenance yard. And eventually flew out into it. The darkness and the fog were getting stronger, so I took my cue to leave and head out. I was tempted to stay until it was dark-dark, but I had a Candy Cap mushroom cookie recipe waiting for me at home to try…
So nice to be back in my backyard in the new year. Run into a volunteer friend. And to hear and see so many GHOs! I mean, who ARE these two that aren’t Ma and Pa Owl?? So much to learn about who is who in the coming weeks!
