Barred Owl at Schramm Woods

I had a wonderful opportunity to watch a Barred Owl at Schramm Woods this afternoon. I spotted him sitting up in a cozy hollow of a Beech tree. Luckily I did not flush him upon first seeing him, so I took the chance to sit in the slush and admire one of my favorite birds.

View of the roost tree from the trail.

Intently watching me.

A White-breasted Nuthatch started to creep down the tree in which the owl was sitting. The owl kept an eye on him. The nuthatch didn't come down too far before he realized the tree was occupied.



A Pileated Woodpecker started tapping on a Shagbark Hickory off to the owl's left.
The owl sat for me for twenty minutes before flying off to the southeast. Schramm Woods is a Central Indiana Land Trust (CILTI) property on Mt. Comfort road just north of 200S. There is a nice loop trail leading from the parking lot now.

Update 1/20/10: The owl must like this tree. He was sitting in the same place one week later.