Barred Owl

We noticed this barred owl sitting on the electric wires along the road early this morning.  Barred owls are common around here, often seen swooping around or watching from a tree or utility pole, but we're not sure if we've ever seen one on the wires.  This owl has a good view of the large upper field with conveniently short grass, but he's keeping a watchful eye on the traffic on the road, too, including me.

Barred owls feed on a variety of small mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and even fish, so the environment around here is perfect, with a mix of grassland, trees, bogs and the river.  They haven't nested on the property for several years, though, so we're hoping maybe this one will settle down.

By the way, Joan prides herself on a great imitation of the barred owl's call, and claims to have had many two-way conversations.