The river and sky were blue at twilight
Jake and I stood on the edge of the river at twighlight and watched the Sliver Moon rise this morning.
The Sliver Moon did not get to rise very high before it was swallowed by Dawn.
Osric Owl. Nora and Osric
Cranetrail
Quite A Surprise
After we came home last night, I opened the door to the bedroom and there was a bird flying around in the dark. Before I could turn on the bedroom light, it flew into the bathroom. When I turned on the light in the bathroom, it was a Western Screech Owl.
I offered my hand like I do to our birds, and told him to step up. He stepped up onto my hand with his sharp claws and iron grip. I lifted him up and he hopped over to the towel rack where we photographed him. I stroked his feathers behind his head while I talked to him, and then checked to see if he was injured. He did not seem to be injured, so I put on a glove and tried to get him to step onto my gloved hand so I could take him outside and let him go. He did not like the glove, and bit it while he held tightly onto the towel rack. I finally got him into a sweater box, covered it with the towel, and took him outside to let him go. He refused to fly out of the box, so I offered my hand, he stepped up on it, I lifted him toward the sky, ad he flew off.
It’s a real mystery how he got into our bedroom. He had to get on the deck, which he could through the 4-inch vents near the top of the roof. Then he would have to get through two cat doors to get to the bedroom. Even though screech owls are small, I believe he is too large for a cat to carry in through the cat doors without the cat getting injured by the owl’s sharp claws and iron grip, and the owl getting injured by the cat.
I think like Spunk disappearing for a month, Sasquatch and the scoop shovel, the Screech Owl in the bedroom will remain a mystery.
Screechy is a handsome little guy. Not happy with il paparazzo taking pics of him.
Laurie’s GIF gives you a sense of scale. He is full grown. He started to relax and closed one eye while I stroked him.
Off Center & Not Even 
What a beautiful, mysterious little owl! Not only do you have a special rapport with The Painter, but also the many creatures inside and outside of your home. The waning crescent moon series was beautiful, Tim, as are the cranes, Jake and owls.
The little owl was adorable. The last moon I’ll see in the east for a while. Thanks, Lavinia.
What a wonderful story and beautiful pictures. It’s another remarkable “New Mexico Moment.” We know those cannot be planned. I do believe they occur spontaneously to those who embrace them. 🙂 I hope the little owl hangs around.
I have only seen a screech out here one other time. He was a real surprise and such a blessing. Thanks, Susan.
Timothy, you are a wonder with birds. I have managed to calm down baby birds and get them out of my house and set them free but an owl? Thank you for sharing these incredible photographs.
You are welcome, Robbie. Thanks, for dropping by.
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Oh wow! I was shocked to see so much text 😉 Beautiful moon and sky shots but what a wonderful story. Of course this could only happen to you. You are the critter whisperer!
Aw! Thanks, Dale.
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A wonderful mystery.
It sure is. Thanks, Couriers.
Wow re the wowl. And the pics even before I read this were already spectacular.
Thanks, Shey. It was a real wowler!
Lol
Wow, this a wonderful post with amazing photographs!
Thanks, Herman.
Wow!!!! That is crazy to find an owl inside your house!! Glad the kitties didn’t interact and everyone is safe and sound!
It was the craziest thing. Thanks, Tiffany.
What a wild experience Tim. Thanks for taking care of him and sharing with us.
You are welcome, Brad. It was a wild encounter with the wild in the domicile. Thanks for stopping by.
You obviously know how to handle birds! I’m glad the owl was returned to the outdoors without incident.
Owls, even small owls, are formidable. The cats weren’t messing with it. Thanks, Liz.
You’re welcome, Tim. I’m glad the cats knew better!
Tim, just a wonderful job taking care of that owl. You are indeed a “critter whisperer.” A happy ending I was happy to come across today.
All ended well in the strange mystery in the domicile. Thanks, Bruce.
THAT is amazing. I’m so glad this story had a happy ending!
Thanks, Sylvia.
Great moon photos.
Thanks, Brad. Did you see the surprise?
Yes I did! Amazing that one could get into your room in the first place. Even more so it would let someone touch it. It looked like it might be purring, like a kitten would.
It clicked at me.
Wow, what a beautiful visitor!
Glad it was ok and went on it’s way.
It’s a really mysterious mystery how he got to the bedroom. There did not seem to be any interaction between the owl and the cats, i.e., no extra fur or feathers one would expect to find if one of the cats brought it into the house. Thanks, Brian.
ohhhh this is sooo special, Tim. He clearly trusts you and he probably follows you around outside.. Wow, soooo trusting and this is such a gift! I hope he comes back to visit you again soon!!! xxx sooo cute.. lucky you!!! xx
He was a special gift. He seems to know how to get in if he wants to come back. Thanks, Cindy.
What a delight!! and you are brave but we know that.. lol .. awww so true. He might like the pets and warmth and want some cheese!!!
I had to check the calendar to make sure it wasn’t April 1st! Holy cow, that is absolutely incredible and we here at Intrigued bow to your Owl prowess. To get to see, to hold it, to pet it …I need a shower. What an experience, thnx for sharing
Holy Cow is right! I was so surprised and bewildered, because other than making its way through the cat door from the deck, which is at the other end of the house from the cat door to the bathroom off the bedroom, I am stumped how he got into the bedroom. He really seemed to enjoy being stroked.
After feeling the iron grip on that little guy, I would not want to have a GHO grab me. Since you are out and about, I didn’t want you to miss the excitement.
Speaking of out and about, if you want to come through Corrales sometime, I just had a major septic system upgrade. I put in a cleanout that a motor home should be able to connect to. There is water, electricity, and septic available if you want to drop by to do some birding.
That is really cool! Impressive that you knew how to handle an owl…..
We’ve had parrots for years. They like to have their heads stroked, so I assumed the owl would like being stroked, also. I was surprised the owl stepped up on my hand when I asked it to. I wasn’t surprised when he would not step up onto my gloved hand and bit the glove. Our parrots won’t step up onto my hand with a glove on and they bite the glove, also. The difference is, the parrots don’t have killer grips like owls. You really need a glove to handle owls. Thanks, Joe.
I hope you are doing well. Tell Karen hi for me.
You are fortunate to have such a beautiful visitor. I love the moon pics! 🙋♀️🦉
Thanks, Caroline.
Beautiful creature!
I’m sure I read and commented on this post.
This has been happening to me on other blogs. Am I blogging in my sleep? Sleepwalk blogging? I sleepwalk eat when I’m under stress. And I sleepwalk and hide things sometimes.
Anyway, the little owl is gorgeous. How lucky to be able to pet one, even just for a few fleeting moments.
You saw a photo of the owl before I created the post. Thanks, Resa.
Okay!
He is very handsome and likes being stroked. Wow what a surprise ..
It’s such a mystery how he got into the bedroom. He was such a blessing. Thanks, Julie.