We recently discovered the gift of a natural streamhead on our mountain property. It turns out it's the gift that just keeps giving, too, as all walks of area wildlife enjoy stopping by for a sip or a bath. I see many types of birds here that I don't get to see near our home, or at our winter birdfeeders.
Not long after we dug out this drinking hole, a barred owl came to visit and take its first bath. I was thrilled! Since then, the owls have returned routinely. Usually they come solo, and at night, or dusk, when the footage is automatically shot in B&W. But just last week what looked like a mating pair enjoyed a visit "to the baths" together, too. (I may post that video later - it’s in B&W.) It was so cool to see two owls in one video! We're used to hearing a bunch of owls together, but it's rare we get to see more than one at the same time.
I hope you enjoy this footage as much as I do!
You can hear some of the birds protesting (the owl's presence?) in the background. You can also hear the harsh call of the blue jay. That definitely got the owl's attention. I mean, how could it not? Those jays are loud! It seems like they are advertising themselves as a potential meal. I hear squirrels do that all the time, too, whenever the bobcats or coyotes are walking by.