Gray Morph Screech Owl at Buck Creek State Park

    For the 6th year in a row, we've seen a Gray Morph Screech Owl in the same hollowed tree at Buck Creek State Park. We drive through the park about every other day, and always check the tree out. We're usually disappointed by not seeing it, but yesterday afternoon it was there!
    It's possible that the owl is there more often but just not visible; as the hollowed section appears to drop deeper into the tree. We've never approached the tree to look inside, as we don't want to chance disturbing it. 
  I'm posting images from yesterday and the previous 5 years. Not sure if it is the same bird each year, or just coincidence that different Gray Morphs use the same eye-level hollow every year. 

    Gray Morph Screech Owl shot with Olympus EM1 Mark III and Olympus 100-400mm at             400mm.
 

    Gray Morph Screech Owl shot with Olympus EM1 Mark III and Olympus 300mm.

    Gray Morph Screech Owl shot with Olympus EM1 Mark III and Olympus 300mm.

        Gray Morph Screech Owl shot with Olympus EM5 Mark III and Olympus 300mm.

                Gray Morph Screech Owl shot with Fuji XT-2 and Fuji 100-400mm. 
                This image was shot just after sunset and was taken using high iso.

                Gray Morph Screech Owl shot with Canon 7D M2 and Canon 500 F4. 

Merlin at Old Reid Park

 Such an awesome encounter at Old Reid today with this Merlin. Likely an immature bird or a female. From All About Birds..."Merlins are small, fierce falcons that use surprise attacks to bring down small songbirds and shorebirds. They are powerful fliers, but you can tell them from larger falcons by their rapid wingbeats and overall dark tones. Medieval falconers called them “lady hawks,” and noblewomen used them to hunt Sky Larks."

This Merlin perched nicely for the better part of an hour...it looked upward and focused its attention on the sky when a Northern Harrier flew over (Pic #3), and again when a flock of Sandhill Cranes flew low overhead (Pic #4). It finally flew, but landed nearby on a rock and posed for more pics.

@NTPRD