After the rain stopped (sort of) yesterday afternoon I decided to try my
luck with the screech owl at Juanita Bay Park. It was there alright, but
well hidden as usual. With a little patience, the right breeze blowing the
foliage and some camera acrobatics I was able to get one decent picture.
While waiting for the owl to move I and 3 other photographers were
entertained by 3 juvenile soras near the end of the middle boardwalk. I
strongly suspect that they are a brood that was raised there this year. It
was great to see and photograph them out in the open. Also present was a
Virginia rail but it remained well-hidden in the reeds. Two green herons did
fly-bys for some added entertainment.

Also, on Saturday I had a visitor to my back yard. I am calling it a
juvenile sharp-shinned hawk but it may well have been a coopers. It was
trying to dry its feathers after the rain and in the process gave me a great
image from my kitchen doorway.

New photos of the above are now in the "last uploads" album of my website if
you care to have a look.



www.photos.rlkimages.com <http://www.photos.rlkimages.com/>



Bob Kothenbeutel

Woodinville