Eastern Screech Owl, red morph catching some sun in Milwaukee County. It was a beautiful day with low winds and sunny skies, but temps only around 37 degrees for a high. It was cold! Image was taken on April 24, 2024.
While out doing some everyday birding I stumbled across a red morph Eastern Screech-Owl. What a surprise to be walking slowly through some woods and to look up and see this bird up in a tree right in front of you but only the back of it at first. Backing off and circling around to the front of this bird at a distance it gave a couple of hard to get quick photos before leaving the area quietly. Nice to see a Screech Owl out a tree cavity for a change. This owl would have been so easy to miss but I just happened to look up at the right time. First sighting this fall-winter of a screech-owl for me. This bird has not been reported that I know of. A cloudy day with low winds. Images were taken on November 16, 2022.