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Goddessartist

(1,799 posts)
Sun Jan 14, 2024, 10:44 AM Jan 2024

Merlin the Barred Owl

A pair of owls sometimes lives in the forest behind our house - rural Vashon. We call them Merlin when we see them. One day this summer Merlin landed on our porch. He also liked to land just outside of the catio and watch Midnight and Jasper...longingly lol.

Here he was outside my kitchen window.

[link:|

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Merlin the Barred Owl (Original Post) Goddessartist Jan 2024 OP
🦉. Nice shot! mobeau69 Jan 2024 #1
I was lucky to have just looked out the window to see him there! Goddessartist Jan 2024 #2
Vashon Island? mobeau69 Jan 2024 #3
Yes! Goddessartist Jan 2024 #9
That is such a beautiful place. I took ferry from Tacoma and spent a day looking around about 35 years ago. Loved it. mobeau69 Jan 2024 #20
Nice photo..love owls Deuxcents Jan 2024 #4
Thank you! Goddessartist Jan 2024 #10
Wow! I didn't realize they'd come right up to a house! Diamond_Dog Jan 2024 #5
They just hung around and watched us. Goddessartist Jan 2024 #11
We have a pair at our place in Kingston RainCaster Jan 2024 #6
It is wonderful! Goddessartist Jan 2024 #13
We see deer on a daily basis RainCaster Jan 2024 #18
Oh yes! Goddessartist Jan 2024 #19
I've got a screech owl living near me. Phoenix61 Jan 2024 #7
It's wonderful to hear them Goddessartist Jan 2024 #14
I love barred owls. liberalmuse Jan 2024 #8
Me too! Goddessartist Jan 2024 #15
Timing is everything! justaprogressive Jan 2024 #12
I know! I was making Z lunch Goddessartist Jan 2024 #16
Love birds justaprogressive Jan 2024 #17

Goddessartist

(1,799 posts)
2. I was lucky to have just looked out the window to see him there!
Sun Jan 14, 2024, 10:50 AM
Jan 2024

Our porch is a smorgasbord for these guys!

mobeau69

(11,144 posts)
20. That is such a beautiful place. I took ferry from Tacoma and spent a day looking around about 35 years ago. Loved it.
Sun Jan 14, 2024, 02:01 PM
Jan 2024

What an awesome place to call home!

RainCaster

(10,874 posts)
6. We have a pair at our place in Kingston
Sun Jan 14, 2024, 12:10 PM
Jan 2024

Late spring every year, we get to hear them teaching their young how to hoot. Over the course of a week we hear the voices get stronger and more confident. It's truly wonderful to share the forest with them.

RainCaster

(10,874 posts)
18. We see deer on a daily basis
Sun Jan 14, 2024, 01:08 PM
Jan 2024

They know our dogs won't chase them, so they come right up to the kennel fence and sniff our dogs.

We have many birds large & small. From Anna's hummingbirds to Bald Eagles, Osprey & Ravens. We bring in our feeders to warm up at night, and the Hummers scold us as we put them out in the morning. But they really appreciate the warm sugar water when it's so cold.

Phoenix61

(17,006 posts)
7. I've got a screech owl living near me.
Sun Jan 14, 2024, 12:19 PM
Jan 2024

I’ve only seen him once and it was too dark to get a picture of him.

liberalmuse

(18,672 posts)
8. I love barred owls.
Sun Jan 14, 2024, 12:25 PM
Jan 2024

There is something really special about them. After rescuing one from the road last fall and having him perched on my shoulder for awhile, I now understand the mystical mythology surrounding them. Thankfully he was just dazed and uninjured and eventually flew off into a tree. I’m so jealous yet happy for you that you get to experience them frequently so close.

Goddessartist

(1,799 posts)
15. Me too!
Sun Jan 14, 2024, 01:00 PM
Jan 2024

What a magical experience you had! I feed the birds and squirrels and crows, and hawks, falcons, and ospreys have landed on our railing as well.

Eagles and blue herons fly above us sometimes when we're in the hot tub, and Merlin flew above us a few times when we were in there as well.

I'm so jealous of your event! And happy for you as well!

Vashon Island is a magical place to live. We are very blessed. I found it on a map in 1998, when we decided to relocate up here.

Goddessartist

(1,799 posts)
16. I know! I was making Z lunch
Sun Jan 14, 2024, 01:03 PM
Jan 2024

and looked up out the window when I heard him land! I happened to have my phone right there as I was waiting for his call! I also got a pic of a peregrine falcon on the railing!

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