Last night at about 2300 I heard both owls talking near our home. There are almost nightly visits by one or both to the area near my home. At 2306 I checked our nest cam and saw that one of them, which I believe was the male, was in the nest. In a few minutes the female landed on the edge of the nest. In a minute the male climbed out and flew. Then the female climbed down into the nest. This is very interesting behavior because she normally does not lay an egg(s) until about late January. These crude photos were taken on my iPhone of the nest cam display on my iPad.
Based on color on its head, I estimate that the baby is about 3 weeks old. Only one baby seen over two days of watching. Female watching her baby.
Note Spanish Moss hanging from the perch and the nest. The male is still bringing sticks to the nest.
Photo taken on hand held iPhone through spotting scope on 20X
Mother owl is doing serious preening of her chick, who is about 4 weeks old. Fortunately it has not tried to leave the nest, but began looking over the edge to the ground yesterday. Both parents seem to hunting to feed the check, who is left alone in the nest most of the day and night.
Photo captured through our nest cam.
We estimate that the one baby hatched about March 1 - 5. The mother is now venturing away from the nest several times a day. Photos taken indirectly through our nest cam.
Female visits the nest at least once a night every few days, always doing a lot of talking. Her mate is often very nearby.
It is possible that she will lay her first egg in late December or it could be late January?
Photo captured through our nest camera.
A pod of roughly a dozen Atlantic Spotted Dolphins came to the boat on the ride back inshore, with older spotted adults, younger individuals, and even a couple of small babies.
Today is the first day I have been able to see the face of the baby. I am not sure if there is a second baby in the nest?
Just added a more complete photo of the baby. It was breathing through its mouth and almost panting in the 80 plus degree heat. Mother was away from the nest, else she would have been able to shade her baby.
Photo taken on hand-held iPhone through spotting scope on 25x.
Got some landing pictures showing the black wing tips.