Category Archives: Typical Owls

With birding a little slow yet I decided to try for the elusive Northern Saw-whet Owl again today. I had a few places in mind that I felt had some potential. I left early for this trip and got to my cold destination. It has been a crazy year finding these cute tiny owls about 8″ tall, and have already found 3 this season. Could I find more? It would be as exciting as the 1st and it was. I spent about an hour and then came around a corner of a tree and there one was, just looking at me. This owl gave great looks for about 30 seconds but then looked a head and then seemed to close it’s eyes. I was lucky I got a shot with in seconds when I first saw it. With plenty of time in the day, there were a lot more trees and places to check out at this location. Coming around a corner, for some reason I looked up, there was the 2nd of the day. This one was really tucked in, I can’t believe why I looked up, it could have been missed so easily. I could not even get a shot with my camera so I had to use my cell phone. Where these owls go, the places are very tight most of the time to get a shot with a telephoto lens. I have to be so quiet and move slow, take a shot and then leave, probably never to return. This is the 5th one I have found since November 15th 2024. People always say, I have been looking with no luck, just keep on looking I say, they are out there. Most of these 5 owls have been close to paths and roads. It was a cold day with temps around 22 degrees with gusts of wind at times, cloudy skies, a few flurries did come down at times. Images were taken on January 6, 2025.

Northern Saw-whet Owl #1 for the day…

Northern Saw-whet Owl #2 for the day…

The pair today…

With snow in the forecast I got out early this morning to check out a new location for the Northern Saw-whet Owl. At this location, the very last tree I was going to check out, here is a Northern Saw-whet Owl just looking at me. I’m like are you kidding me? I quickly backed up, looked the situation over not wanting to disturb this owl. This bird was very much in the open from the side of the tree I was on. I took a couple of photos and left the area. I think I’m beyond lucky finding these owls this year as this is #3 in just 35 days. They are so cute and it is so much fun finding these tiny owls! It was snowing when I left this location with some breeze and temps around 28 degrees. Image was taken on December 19, 2024.

The Northern Saw-whet owl with light snow…

In my continued search of the Northern Saw-whet Owl I came across another one today. I’ve looked hard for the last 6-7 weeks. It was a new location in SE Wisconsin. This Northern Saw-whet Owl was really tucked away in this tree, I almost missed it. To look up and see this tiny owl with a cat like face looking at you is so exciting. When I got the surprise of seeing it looking at me, like always, I take a deep breath and then back up away from the bird just to get a grip of the setting and not wanting to disturb it too. I looked around to find an opening in the branches and took the shot. When I was walking away it appeared to have its eyes mostly closed. I tell anyone who wants to see one, keep looking, don’t give up, they are around us. Most of them I have found seem to be about 7′-8′ high in the tree. It was mostly cloudy with temperatures around 30 degrees, with some wind. Image was taken on December 17, 2024

The Northern Saw-whet Owl tucked away in the tree…

I have been looking for the last few weeks for the Northern Saw-whet Owl. Today I was rewarded finding one in a pine. It is a feeling like no other. When you are digging around in parks etc and you look up and you are looking one, it is like your heart sinks. A lot goes through your mind in split seconds. Then you take a breath, hold the camera up and take a couple of shots. And that is how it went finding this tiny owl about 8″ tall. One of the worlds smallest owl, these owls are nocturnal hunters that are fierce and silent. They hunt mice, small mammals, small birds, and sometimes insects. I will tell anyone, they are out there, sometimes you have to look in the places most people don’t. It was a cloudy day, mild temps around 50 degree, low winds. The images were taken in Southeastern Wisconsin on November 15, 2024.

During the winter months I bird locations all over southeastern Wisconsin with hopes to find a Northern Saw-whet Owl. I dig here and there and it has been a quiet winter until last week. I have come across 2 of them just recently. They are so tiny, cute and motionless in the trees when I found them, and are that way when I leave. One had a vole in it’s talons. They may be cute with their catlike face and quiet looking, but they are highly nocturnal with activity beginning at late dusk. I always tell anyone who asks how to find them, I tell them look in pine trees, even if it is just one out in the open. It has been cold weather with some light snow, temps this morning around 10 degrees

Northern Saw-whet Owl…

The Northern Saw-whet Owl with the vole…

I left the house this morning like many mornings this time of year in search for the Northern Saw-whet Owl. I have looked hard the last month and this morning was my lucky day. Coming around a corner on a path, I looked up and here is one looking right at me!! When this happens I usually am in shock for a few seconds. This Saw-whet had a vole in its talons so it was just out for breakfast I guess. I took a couple of quick photos and off I went. It looked so beautifully perched in the tree when I left it. Always a great time when you come across one of these. It was a cloudy morning with temps around 28 degrees and a good breeze making it feel like winter again. Image was taken on February 11, 2024.

The Northern Saw-whet Owl with the vole…