Presquille Park - two barred owls fighting/mating?

[mr.sharp-photo]

I'll post my pictures later...
but i spotted a barred owl while driving. parked my car and walked through a field/path to get to it. made sure to not get to close or to not disturb it. stood behind a tree and took lots of pictures. then it leaned forward for 2-3 min and swooped to the ground. looked like it was hunting something.
all the sudden, on the tree i was behind, about 5 feet away and 1 foot up (yes, only 1 foot up) landed another barred owl. it started hooting at the owl on the ground and swooped down to attack/hump it. they flew together back in the tree the 1st owl was at, fought for 5 seconds and the 1st owl flew away.
incredibly amazing to see an owl 5 feet from me (too close to get a pic of it).

[denis]

wow!
i,d say your first visit there went well.
denis

[Ann Brokelman]

It will be interesting to see what they were doing.  The red tails are now mating now.  Sounds like a good day

[Bluffs Birder]

Hi,

Great that you saw the Barred Owls but it seems like an aweful long to drive for 2 birds - LOL.  Was there anything else at the park or anything along the highway?  I saw many Red-tailed Hawks, Kestrel, lots of Ravens, a Pileated Woodpecker, and I think a Rough-legged Hawk along the 401 on Tuesday when we drove up to Ottawa for the Sens/Blackhawks game...I'm really a diehard Leafs fan (sad eh?)  :cry:   On a happier note, I do have a somewhat distant relative that plays for the Sens who's marrying Carrie Underwood!!!  :lol:

Walter  

PS - This thread should be under "Eastern Ontario Reports"

[denis]

that,s funny walter!
yes,lucky mike fisher! i,m also a die-hard leaf fan,but they havent given us anything to cheer about for years.i went to an ottowa game last year(free tickets). sad indeed.
denis

[mr.sharp-photo]

Hi,

Great that you saw the Barred Owls but it seems like an aweful long to drive for 2 birds - LOL.  Was there anything else at the park or anything along the highway?  I saw many Red-tailed Hawks, Kestrel, lots of Ravens, a Pileated Woodpecker, and I think a Rough-legged Hawk along the 401

LOTS of RTHs in the trees.
and i saw something really strange on the DVP.
i didn't see their heads, but i swear there were 2 turkey vultures sitting on a tree (one on a branch 2 feet above the other). trying to think of other birds i've seen sitting in pairs that have that same "dirty" feathered look TVs have.

other than the 2 barred owls, Presquille was silent. saw two people do something that looked like they were chasing a RTH away from the bird feeder near the start of the camp grounds. saw a bunch of creepers and nuthatches. and it was so beautiful outside yesterday that i was fine with the 3 hr round-trip drive.

p.s. Leafs suck. they really do.

[mr.sharp-photo]

It will be interesting to see what they were doing.  The red tails are now mating now.  Sounds like a good day

looked at the picture. it was definitely a fight, not a mate.