Tag Archives: Northern Pygmy Owl

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Bob Yeager wrote, “Our friend, Alex Pierce, took this wonderful photo of a Northern Pygmy Owl while she and her husband Donald were on vacation at Sea Ranch a couple of weeks ago.” In receiving Alex’s permission to share her photo, Alex wrote, “I love going to [the coast] and photographing birds and everything nature.”

I love owls, and Pygmy Owls are a treat to find. Rick and I had one land on our deck railing some years ago. Did you know they have false eyes on the back of their head? That's what I photographed!  Quite an interesting feature Mother Nature gave this tiny owl, a little help from predators.

Their calls are a high pitched hoot and you can hear it for yourself at this link to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Northern_Pygmy-Owl/sounds

Thanks to Alex for allowing me to share her photo with you here.

We are having a two-day heatwave for today and tomorrow. It's quite warm away from the ocean, and even toasty in downtown Gualala. The Pacific Ocean is all riled up today - huge breakers and the mist from them is drifting across Highway One. I was told by Ron at Surf Market that the ocean is riled up because of a storm in the Gulf of Alaska. Wow!

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Walt Rush found this little owl on his deck in Irish Beach - a Northern Pygmy-Owl.

I love these little owls. They can be seen in the daytime hours hunting small birds.  Their calls are interesting, a slow, measured hoot. You can hear it for yourself at this link at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Northern_Pygmy-Owl/sounds

Thanks to Walt for allowing me to share his photo with you here.

Lots of clouds from a tropical disturbance to the south. Maybe some rain tonight? But, please, no dry lightning!

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Craig's wife, Rita Peck, looked out their window and saw this little owl taking a bath in one of the water bowls they leave out for wildlife.

Craig spotted the Pygmy Owl again, this time perched on a branch and looking very clean from its bath!

I love these little owls and I thank Craig for allowing me to share his photos with you here. To see much more of Craig's nature photography, here is the link to his website: http://www.ruffimage.com

Sunny and cold this morning with clouds drifting in this afternoon. We have rain forecast for tomorrow - hooray!

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Beverley Fagundes wrote, "I had brought my golden retriever, Sadie, home from our walk to find this lovely Northern Pygmy Owl waiting to greet us on the porch."

"These owls are only six inches tall, and so lovely. He wasn’t bothered about me getting close to him, so I was a little concerned that he could be injured. He was very obliging and stepped onto my finger, so I could look at him over. Then he flew away. What a relief, no injuries or broken wings, just an amazing experience!”

To have an owl calmly step on your finger is wonderful. What a great nature moment!

Thanks to Beverley for allowing me to share her photo with you here.

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Peter Baye had a fun sighting recently. He wrote, “An hour before sunset, I saw a small bird that I first thought was a Spotted Towhee from its movements. However, the round head revealed it was a daytime appearance of a Northern Pygmy Owl. It must be fairly hungry after last week’s long rains, since they can’t hunt well with the din of raindrops. It didn’t seem to mind my staring and taking photos.”

I love owls so I was happy to see this photo. Thanks to Peter for allowing me to share it with you here.