Tag Archives: Great Horned Owl Owlets

I have been following a couple of pair of Great Horned Owls with their owlets. Stopping in at a couple of locations and taking a couple of images. For the most part these owlets do nothing other than sit there and look at you if they are not sleeping. They are fed by an adult but I was never around when that took place. An adult Great Horned Owl is always in view of the owlets and the nest if there is an owlet that has not fledged. Images were taken over the last 2-3 weeks. The owlets do move around when your not there so the images are of just a few different birds.

Two owlets still in the nest…

I think it is waiting for food…

Just a fuzz ball…

The adult Great Horned Owl off in a distance within views of the nest and owlets…

I went to a location of where a Great Horned Owl has been sitting on a nest to see how far things have moved along. The owlets are very visible, moving around and probably will be leaving the nest soon. They gave some nice views today while I was there. An adult Great Horned Owl was off in a distance high in a tree keeping an eye on the nest. It was a beautiful morning with full sun, 60 degrees and low winds. Image was taken on April 10, 2024.

3 Great Horned Owl owlets in the photo if you can see them…

This little one has the mouth open wanting something to eat from an adult…

Profile view…

A Great Horned Owl nest in Milwaukee County is starting to show signs of life. The nest is holding 2 owlets as the mother keeps her eye on the nest from a long distance. It was a nice day with some sun, lows winds and temps in the 40’s. Images were taken on March 21, 2023.

First one owlet appears…

Then a second…

My last birding stop of the day was to check on an old nest off a highway in Waukesha County. This nest was not used last year. Present was an adult Great Horned Owl which flew from the nest before I got a photo off and an owlet which of course stayed in the nest. This nest is very far off the highway so the photo is a distant shot. I hung around a while with hopes the adult would return with some food but even though it was warmer today, the wind made if feel still like winter, I did not hang around. Temps around 43 degrees, steady winds from the west, mostly sunny skies. Image was taken on March 20, 2023.

The Great Horned Owl, owlet on the nest waiting…

I have been watching a Great Horned Owl nest for the last couple of months in Waukesha County. I only stop every couple of weeks if that to see what is going on. At today’s visit, two owlets were present. One still on the nest and the other well out on a limb. An adult was close by perched in a tree watching. I only hung around for a minute and left the area. It was a partly cloudy morning with light winds, a pleasant day, temps around 42 degrees. Images were taken on April 18, 2020.

The Great Horned Owl owlet on the nest…

The other Great Horned Owl owlet out on a limb…

Another view…

Doing what they do…

While out birding this morning along the lakefront in Milwaukee I received a tip of Great Horned Owl with 3 owlets. Birding was a little slow along the lakefront where I was with nothing really going on so I made the drive to check these cuties out. When I arrived there were 3 owlets in a row on one limb. The adult female stopped in a couple times to check on the little ones but did not hang around. I’m not sure how old these owlets are but I’m sure they will be flying some soon and spreading out in the tree some too. It was a nice opportunity to see the first owlets of the spring. It was a bright sunny day with little wind but chilly at first. Images were taken on April 27, 2018.

The 3 Great Horned Owl owlets…

The one on the right is looking at the adult female off in a tree…

Great Horned Owl, adult female off a ways in a tree…

Great Horned Owl, adult female…

Just a pair cuddled up…

I birded the Milwaukee lakefront early this morning and the lake was still along with the birding. Large flocks of 100’s – Double-crested Cormorants on the lake, and some flying north was one of the highlights. I saw 2 Black-crowned Night Herons at the lagoon in the trees from Memorial Drive looking east. The few parts of Lake Park I birded and Lakeshore State Park were quiet. I few stops out in Waukesha Co surprised me with Great Horned Owl owlets. No adults were present while I was there (see update below). 4 owlets total out of the nest, I did not hang around but grabbed a few pics. At the same location I flushed a Wild Turkey from a nest, scared the heck out of me and I quickly exited the area and took a distant photo of the eggs. Always surprises me how they manage with the nests on the ground with all the predictors. I know they all don’t survive! Not a lot of bird species today but some nice action! Images were taken on April 24, 2015. UPDATE: A return to the Great Horned Owl location the next day, April 25, 2015 an adult Great Horned Owl was present. The Owl remained in a nearby tree and never moved from that spot while I was there. Images of that adult have been added below.

Great Horned Owl – Owlets

Great Horned Owls

Binomial name: Bubo virginianus

Category: Owls

Size: 22” long, 44” wing span

Weight: 3.1 lb

Adult Great Horned Owl

Adult Great Horned Owl

Wild Turkey nest with eggs from a distance, other images show at least 11 eggs.

Double-crested Cormorants flyover Lake Michigan

Double-crested Cormorants flyover Lake Michigan