When we walk on this trail we never really look up. The Ashley River is on the right, a few places on the left lead to the main house of the plantation, and overhead just big branches thick with leaves. It’s a spot we pass through.

However on this morning I glanced up. Maybe 15 feet up at the tree I spotted this Owl.

Below, a juvenile Barred Owl. One that had fledged a few weeks ago. Owls nest in a nearby bamboo swamp, I assume this was from there.

Specs; OM-1 mk2, OM 100-400 II, ON1, Topaz, DxO Color Efex.

Note; This year was not a good year for the Barred Owls in our usual places. A few miles up the road new housing was built, never good for wildlife, water levels changed too. Also they have been in the same nesting place for a long time, might have been just time for a change. This juvenile was photographed last fall.