Looking for owls this time of year I came across this Great Horned Owl on a nest. It is early in the season for nesting Great Horned Owls so we have a ways to go until we see owlets. I took a photo from far away and left the area. It was a warmer day with temps around 50 degrees around noon. Behind us a cold month with highs only in the mid 20’s for the most part. Image was taken on February 13, 2026.
As I was walking through a park in Waukesha County a Great Horned Owl landed near me. It looks like it is a young owl maybe past the owlet stage. Other species surrounded this owl in the tree, they were harassing it vocally. Usually you get some American Crows, but there were 2 Eastern Kingbirds, 4 American Goldfinches, American Crows and even American Robins where in the same tree towards the top where the owl was. The owl did not budge with all the racket. Eventually all the birds flew off and the owl was still there. It was a beautiful morning with full sun, mild temps and low winds. Image was taken on May 29, 2025.
The Great Horned Owl…
One of my birding stops today was checking on a previous found Great Horned Owl in a nest. The male is in the area bringing food to the female when needed but stays well away from the nest not to attract predators. The female bird in the nest is up a little higher since the last visit so that means the little owlets are probably out of the eggs and getting bigger fast. It was a nice sunny day but a very cold wind from the north, it still felt like winter with temps around 35 degrees. Image was taken on March 6, 2025.
Today I decided to focus on Great Horned Owls in nests. I had hit 4 locations wandering around the woods with hopes to find one in a nest. It was just a gorgeous morning to be out strolling around the woods with the snow being gone. Things were pretty quiet overall. As the morning was winding down and I was at my last location, I spotted this beautiful Great Horned Owl sitting in a nest. It was a cold morning starting out at 18 degrees, some wind and full sun which at times felt good. Images were taken on March 2, 2025.
There she is sitting on some eggs…the male is typically within sight of the nest off aways…
She is at the top of that tree…cell pic
A birding location I stop at once cold weather is upon us, like now November. I spotted this Great Horned Owl which I have not seen one at this location since early spring. I have seen a pair at this location for the last 4 years in winter and have always seen a nest so this is what I’m assuming. They move out to a different location for the late spring once the young are older. I’m sure when I saw this owl that a mate was nearby in fact it was looking off to another direction which tells me it was there in that direction, just my thinking how these owls act. It was a cloudy day with little wind temps around 38 degrees. Image was taken on November 25, 2023.
The Great Horned Owl resting in a White Pine at a distance…
As I walked one of my birding spots in Milwaukee County coming over a hill I spotted a Great Horned Owl watching me from a distance. The owl was high up in a broken off large tree just staring at me like they do, assuming it is on a nest. I found it’s mate off in a distant spruce tree and viewable to the owl on the nest. I was a nice day with plenty of sun low winds but cool. Image was taken on February 25, 2022.
The Great Horned Owl on the nest…
The 2nd Great Horned Owl off in a distant spruce tree watches the nest…
Driving along a road in Waukesha County I spotted a Great Horned Owl off in a distance perched in a tree. I stopped and took a couple of shots from the drivers seat. I’m assuming another adult or owlets were nearby as the owl was looking at a couple of locations nearby on and off. I did not hang around, and continued on my trip. It was a pleasant morning out with temps starting at 40 degrees checking out a few warbler locations in the area. Warblers were around but not in high numbers. Images were taken on May 9, 2021.
The Great Horned Owl…
Looking over to another area were a possible owlet might be…
The other location the Great Horned Owl starred when I was there…
While out birding one of my stops today was to check on a nest that Red-tailed Hawks used last year. I was curious to see if they were on the nest yet. To my surprise a Great Horned Owl was sitting on it like it owned the place. Typically Great Horned Owls will use nests from other birds such as a Red-tailed Hawks nest, as they don’t build their own. I’ll have to check on this one as the weeks go by to see what goes on. It was a cloudy day with nice temps around 30. Images were taken on February 4, 2021
The Great Horned Owl giving nice looks today…
Another view, this nest is very high up…
My birding morning started off in Milwaukee County. Common birds that are expected to be seen this time of year were found. A couple stops in Waukesha County on my way home produced a beautiful Great Horned Owl. It was sitting in a pine perched pretty and was there when I left. Coming across this nice bird was a great way to start out the birding new year. A gloomy morning, temps around 30, some wind, not bad for the 1st of the year!
One of the places Great Horned Owls can be found are cemetery’s. I drive though a few year round looking for these birds in slower birding times. This spring I found just that, a cemetery with a pair of Great Horned Owls. What a great place to have a nest and raise a family. Typically quiet, a large area to find prey. Today, one of the two perched in the open, I could see the nest nearby in another tree but so high up, I couldn’t see what is going on. I have seen no owlets but I’m sure they are around by this time of year. I didn’t even have to get out of the car for these shots. A nice sunny day but stiff winds from the NE made for a chilly day. Images were taken on April 21, 2020.
An adult Great Horned Owl just hanging out with the nest close by…
It was nice to come across a pair of nesting Great Horned Owls late morning. The female was on the nest while the male was perched high in a spruce tree about 100 feet away. First nesting pair of the year for me. It was a beautiful day, almost felt like spring. Temps around 40, started out with a little sun but clouded over around noon, low winds.
The female Great Horned Owl on the nest…
The male Great Horned Owl near the nest resting peacefully and watching the area too…
Doing some general birding today I came across a pair of Great Horned Owls out catching some sun in Milwaukee County. It was one of the cold winter days just after some freshly fallen snow with plenty of sunshine, very little wind. It made for a pleasant day for birding. Image was taken on January 20, 2019.
While out birding this morning I came across a Great Horned Owl. It looked like it was enjoying the sun and the beautiful day with the spring like weather we are having. Images were taken on December 16, 2018.
A beautiful Great Horned Owl in the spot light in Milwaukee County Wisconsin on March 23, 2018
Great Horned Owl enjoying the morning sun…
While out birding, I captured a Great Horned Owl with an owlet at a distance. The owlet is pretty good size sitting along side an adult. Image taken in southeastern Wisconsin on March 19, 2017.
Great Horned Owl owlet in Wisconsin on May 9, 2016
Binomial name: Bubo virginianus
Category: Owls
Size: 22” long, 44” wing span
Weight: 3.1 lb
A couple shots of a Great Horned Owl in Milwaukee County Wisconsin on March 15, 2016. Seeing one of these is always a treat!
Binomial name: Bubo virginianus
Category: Owls
Size: 22” long, 44” wing span
Weight: 3.1 lb
