Hi everyone,



Maybe it was good karma from Martin's excellent Peregrine hunting video earlier today, but I had a very pleasant surprise in the back yard today.? I came home and saw a Downy Woodpecker under a suet feeder, completely frozen in a position where its head was looking back over its shoulder.? Thinking there might be an accipiter in the yard, I started checking out likely places, and there was a NORTHERN PYGMY-OWL in a serviceberry tree about thirty feet away - and it had captured a bird.? I was unable to tell what species it was because unfortunately the owl's back was to me and the prey was mostly covered by a branch, but I didn't want to chance spooking the owl by going outside to get a better angle.?



I shot a lot of video, and one of them is at this link - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v82r8WENTLQ .?



The bird took its time plucking the bird - in fact it hadn't finished yet when it became too dark to continue shooting video.? The owl frequently looked all around, presumably to make sure no bigger predator was in the vicinity to try to steal its meal.?



This is the third time we've had a Pygmy-Owl in the yard - September, 2008 two times, two days apart; and November, 2008.? I?haven't ever?heard this species in our neighborhood, so am not sure whether this (these) is a resident bird or an individual moving through.? There is good habitat nearby, so either is possible.?



Hopefully the bird will be around again - we'll see.?



John Tubbs

Snoqualmie, WA

johntubbs at comcast.net