Saturday, August 13, 2011

Owls and Meteors

I got up twice during the wee hours of morning to get a peek at the Perseid meteor shower but the night sky had a thin layer of clouds that hovered like a gauze blanket. I could see a few of the brightest stars but the clouds along with the moon made seeing any shooting stars difficult.
I stood on the deck for a long while looking at the sky. Off in the distance I could hear an owl hooting. 
Back in the spring when I was renovating the barn, I discovered an owl's nest up in the loft. I was removing some junk from a back room and pulling some honeysuckle vines that had crept up the back side of the barn. The vines had wrapped around some of the loose boards about twelve feet up, and when I tried to pull them free, it spooked the owl. She swooped out of the barn and flew close enough to my face that a rustle of air tickled my ear as she flapped by.
I wanted to climb up there to see if I could see the babies, but owls can be pretty ornery so I decided to let sleeping owls lie.
Now where was I? Oh yes, the meteor shower. I know it happened, but this year, it didn't happen for me. Maybe next year.
Y'all have a great Sunday.

18 comments:

  1. So sorry to hear you missed the meteor shower. Interesting owl story. You're probably lucky you didn't get attacked about the head and shoulders, not only a fly-by of the ear.

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  2. I always miss meteor showers or anything like that too.
    But, an owl is pretty cool too. We used to have a pair hang around here, but I haven't seen them in a long time.

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  3. I as well missed the metoer shower. Though I had hoped to catch a glimpse. No such luck though. Maybe next year for me too.
    Baby owls? Have you seen them or caught a picture or glimpse at all?
    Blessings

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  4. Have a nice weekend as well!

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  5. We had cloud, so didn't see it. Love the description of the owl protecting her young. Would love to see them.

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  6. Awwwww you've got owls as well!!! They're lovely but their baby chicks tend to look on the pre-historic looking side yet they are very super cute in their own owlish way!!

    Take care
    x

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  7. I was wide awake but it wasn't worth hobbling outside with a cast on my foot. Plus, we had some bad weather so it was probably cloudy. Glad you heard the owl though!

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  8. Owls are cooland I love them, but I will mention this for the uninitiated: They are powerful birds of prey and have been known to attack humans. Their talons will do a number on your face and head. Personally, I would take pride in having a nest on my property but would avoid any close contact.

    Shucks---we had clouds last night, too.

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  9. With the full moon I didn't even try to see.

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  10. ha - forget the shower. Sounds like you had a worthwhile venture after all.

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  11. Thanks all. Sounds like the shooting stars was a bust all over.
    @Clint, I knew they could be agressive. I saw one snatch a small cat from a stump in a neighbor's barnyard.
    I will admire them from a distance.

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  12. I've never seen an owl up close, but I hear them sometimes in the evening. Since we have a problem with voles, I'm glad of them!

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  13. I love the sound of a hooting owl! And I can sympathize with your wandering honeysuckle! I SO love honeysuckle but wish it woul dstay where I put it! Just found your blog through the comment you left on mine. I am looking forward to a nice glass of iced tea this afternoon and peruse your past posts. I have YEARS to catch up on. Good reading!

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  14. It sounds as though Mama Owl has claimed her spot in the Barn, complete with fragrant Honeysuckle.

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  15. The Barred Owls are among my favorites to spot in our corner of Virginia. We had a clear night for the meteor shower, but the bright moon really kept us from seeing anything, even here in the country. Next time!

    I hope you've had an enjoyable day!

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  16. I found the meteor story interesting...but the owl story intrigued me more. Our yard in AZ used to be full of big barn owls....they would roost in the palm trees and gaze down on our sweet Sophie in anticipation for an evening meal....the hoot...hoot...hoot was always somewhat of a soothing sound, but you knew they were just looking for dinner.`

    Jo

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  17. We've had too much cloud cover to see anything. Oh well. Owls are pretty amazing creatures but you were right to leave the babies alone.

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  18. You have the coolest stuff on your farm! Deer, owls, barns with honeysuckle attached...
    I missed the meteors too. I got up at about 3:30am to take a look, but the sky was completely overcast with clouds rolled in from the ocean. Too bad. So I went back to bed.

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