Great Horned Owl and owlet

April 20, 2016 in Great Horned Owl

CF2C8067-001After many visits, so enjoyable to get much better looks at one of the owlets in the nest!  They are now standing up much taller and looking around the nest area keeping an eye open on all proximate activity!

Great Horned Owlet – Methuen Rookery

April 25, 2014 in Great Horned Owl

The Great Horned Owlet continues to grow in size and darken slightly in plumage.  Best guess is that the owlet is about 6 weeks old.  It is likely days away from breaking out of the nest and starting the process of climbing around on nearby branches prior to fledging, or making its first flight!  Stay tuned!!

Great Horned Owlet – Methuen Rookery

April 22, 2014 in Great Horned Owl

The Great Horned Owlet in Methuen continues to grow in size and change in plumage with darker colors. Nice observation time this morning while owlet in nest with adult no where to be seen. At first, owlet low in nest and then it just seemed to straighten right up providing much better looks. Estimated age is around 5-6 weeks old and ready to start “branching” very soon!

For those with interest, 7 photos posted:   http://www.pbase.com/birdshots/image/155336225

Click “next” in upper right corner to advance frames!

Great Horned Owlet

April 10, 2014 in Great Horned Owl

The Great Horned owlet continue to remain in the nest with Mother owl leaving owlet alone for longer periods of time.  Owlet continues to grow in size and is alert to all proximate activities in Heron rookery.

Great Horned Owl & owlet – Methuen Rookery

April 3, 2014 in Great Horned Owl

The Great Horned Owl pair in Methuen appear to have mated in early to middle of February. The female laid her egg in the middle of February, incubated it 30-35 days, keeping the incubation temperature constant, even during the all snowstorms. The owlet was born in the middle of March and will likely fledge in early June, at about 10 weeks. Owlets open their eyes at one week, and will start to leave the nest at four to five weeks of age. Owlets will then “branch” and then hang around on that branch for another 9 to 12 weeks when they become proficient at flying. The young stay near the parents until the fall, when they are forced to leave their parents territory.

Photos posted:  http://www.pbase.com/birdshots/image/155079818 

Enjoy!

Great Horned Owl – Methuen: strong winds

April 1, 2014 in Great Horned Owl

The winds was blowing at 15 MPH this morning out of the north.  The female protected the chick under her wings while her ear tufts were being blown around quite a bit.  A single chick is in the nest, at times with eyes wide open!

Great Horned Owl & owlet – Methuen

March 29, 2014 in Great Horned Owl

The Great Horned Owl and little one continue at the Methuen Heron Rookery.  So far, no indications of another owlet, but we will keep a sharp eye open for other one!  No sign of Papa Bear.  The rookery is now filling up with Great Blue Herons returning to the rookery and chasing each other in normal courtship behavior.  Stay tuned!

Great Horned Owl, Methuen – Mother and owlet!

March 26, 2014 in Great Horned Owl

The Great Horned Owl on nest in Methuen has at least one owlet in the nest.   The nest is located at the Great Blue Heron Rookery adjacent to Nevins Farm MSPCA and the Methuen Rail Trail in Methuen.  The first sighting of the mom on nest was Feb. 12.  It looks like the owlet may be close to 2 weeks old.  When Great Horned Owl eggs hatch, the downy owlets are the size of newborn chickens. Their mother broods them day and night. A few weeks later, the owlets can be left alone while both adults resume hunting at twilight. Great Horned Owl young remain in the nest for about six weeks, then climb out onto nearby branches. They begin taking short flights at seven weeks, and can fly well at 9-10 weeks.

Great Horned Owl and owlet!

April 2, 2013 in Great Horned Owl

The Great Horned Owl continues to keep a close and watchful eye on the growing owlet.  The two remain closely snuggled together in the nest amidst constant activity around them from the busy Great Blue Heron rookery.  In addition, the Red-winged Blackbirds are all over the place making all kinds of noise.  the owlet is growing a bit each day and hopes run high for the owlet to get bigger and stronger in the weeks ahead!

Great Horned Owl/owlets – Boxford/North Andover

April 16, 2012 in Nearby Landbirds

Returned to the Heron Rookery located on the West Boxford/North Andover town line on Saturday morning.  The weather was spectacular with bright sun, clear skies, warm temps, and a soft breeze.  On my prior visit, had a chance to locate the Great Horned Owl on nest in one of the white pines.  On Saturday, my hope was to view and possibly photograph the mother and the owlets.  With God’s grace, the morning was a blessing beyond description! 

At first, just the mother and one owlet appeared.  The mother then flew a few times in and out of the nest into nearby dense vegetation.  This provided opportunities for some nice flight images.  Then the second owlet appeared.  The mother then spent some time on a nearby perch.  She seemed to be searching and scanning for prey.  She then returned to her bambinos and they all nestled together.  That was my cue to leave them be and hit the gates!

For those with an interest, a series of photos are posted online for further viewing: http://www.pbase.com/birdshots/image/142722800         Click “next” in upper right corner to advance frames!

For specifics on the location, here is the link that provided full info as well as a trail map: http://www.ecga.org/explore_and_engage/view_property/1051-carter_fields#

Carter Fields is located in an area with a significant base of conserved land owned by the town of North Andover, including the Mazurenko Farm (104 acres), Carter Hill (27 acres), and Barker Hill (55 acres). All of these parcels and Carter Fields are part of the Lake Cochichewick watershed, North Andover’s sole source of drinking water.