Al Larson Photography

This little guy, a Northern Pygmy-Owl,  showed up one sunny day in our yard. He posed nicely on this fence post for several neat shots and then flew into a small pine tree where I was able to approach it quite closely for a few more shots.

Most of my encounters with this small owl have been pleasant ones. They seem to be very tolerant of a human being. This is one reason I enjoy them so.

One appeared one day by the woodshed feasting on a California Quail. The quail was much larger than the owl which is just under 7 inches long. I am not aware that it made the kill but it was very much in charge. It spent the better part of three days gorging on its prey.  All this time it defended its meal from marauding jays and squirrels. Chickadees and nuthatches scolded from the tree above. The owl would repair to the tree and stand guard and if  anything approached its larder it would pounce down and claim its right to the meal. One must remember that this is one of our smaller owls. It is diurnal, meaning it is out and about during the day as well as night. We have often been awakened  in the early morning  by its single flute-like toot.

While looking out on a cold frosty morning I noticed a scene on the window before me. It looked like an etching. Jack Frost had been busy and painted what appears to be grass. Imagine, if you will, a carpet of dry grass with a few long stems reaching upward.

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Although this photo was taken several winters ago it represents what it could have been like just a few weeks ago. Just around the corner about 300 yards above the house we find this old snag piled high with snow. Snags like this are very common here. Once in a while a fierce summer wind  known as a “down burst” comes roaring down the valley wrenching and twisting healthy mature trees, breaking them off far above the ground. I like to leave these snags in place. After a few years the wood softens and decays making it easy for woodpeckers and nuthatches to excavate cavities for their nests. Meanwhile wood nymphs (dryads) make giant snow cones in the forest.

Every year I lose bluebirds to marauding weasel. Once in a while I find one at the scene of the crime. I know that on their part it is a matter of survival. Maybe I should make an effort to make the boxes predator proof but with 350 nest boxes the job would be overwhelming. I love the bluebirds and I hate to have them preyed upon by any predator. However, one must realize that if I were to keep the predators away they would find another unprotected nest somewhere. It is with this in mind that I roll with the punches and tolerate an occasional loss of nestlings.
In this photo there are bluebird feathers scattered about indicating the weasel made a kill. I seize the opportunity to shoot a rare photo of Nature at work. I am thankful that these raids are few and far between.

Here is another scene from my files taken about eight years ago. I like to catch the unusual cloud formations. The sky is such a beautiful palette.