I was happy to be one of the first visitors out on the boardwalk at Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary the other day. As I walked along in silence, I caught a glimpse of a large bird as it flew through the foliage over the swamp, off to my right. It glided by soundlessly and disappeared into the trees (See this fascinating Audubon article: The Silent Flight of Owls Explained.)
Out of the corner of my eye, I could tell it had been a large brown bird with wide wings, and – judging by its silent flight – I’d guessed it was an owl. My first thought was that I’d missed really seeing it. But then, much to my delight, the large Barred Owl flew over to a branch out in the open, right in front of me! The owl sat there gazing up and down, forward and backward, watching and listening closely to every sound. What a joy to be alone in its presence!
“Barred Owls roost on branches and in tree cavities during the day and hunt by night . . . . They hunt by sitting and waiting on an elevated perch, while scanning all around for prey with their sharp eyes and ears.” Maybe this Owl was out for an early breakfast! To learn much more about the beautiful Barred Owl, check out All About Birds-Barred Owl!
I love this sign near the beginning of the boardwalk at Corkscrew Swamp!
To learn more about this southwest Florida treasure, check out Corkscrew Swamp‘s website: https://corkscrew.audubon.org.
Birder's Journey 
What an awesome experience!
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It was! Wish you could have been there☺️
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What a wonderful sighting!! It’s a beautiful owl and one I’ve never seen!
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Thanks, Deborah…it was very special. I’ve seen Barred Owls quite a few times, but rarely caught photos.
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Oh, how extra special this sighting is for you then!! 😀
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🤗
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What a treat!
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Yes, Kathy… it was one of those unexpected gifts we are sometimes lucky enough to come across.
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I loved this swamp, great shots, Carol! And I love the sign…..wish all people would read it when entering, lol.
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Thank you, Donna. Corkscrew was much closer to your location than to us – we always stay overnight when we go. So glad you’ve been there and enjoyed it, too!
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What a precious experience! Your photos are lovely!
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Great word for it, Pam. Those really were a precious 5-6 minutes of close-up, alone time with this beautiful owl.
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What wonderful shots of the Barred Owl and a delightful description of your solitary encounter with it. That sign is perfect–we need to have similar signs in the parks and reserves that I like to visit.
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Thanks for your thoughtful comments, Mike. I feel the same way about the sign. It’s the only one I’ve ever seen quite like this, and I honestly think visitors on the boardwalk here are quieter than most!
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Pretty special isn’t it 😂😂. One of the first owls I photographed was in Corkscrew. Very nice series, and glad you caught the whole thing. I know you appreciated the Owl 🙏🙏🙏
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I’ve seen a Barred Owl on a couple of other occasions at Corkscrew, but only managed to get a dark photo once. I always look for them, but this encounter was a real surprise treat!
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Owls are always a very special finds when birding due to their nocturnal habit. You did well BJ to see this one, we rarely see owls down here by day, we get the rare tip off occasionally.
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I couldn’t help but think this Owl was still out because the boardwalk had just barely opened. I may have been the first human to walk that route that morning.
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What wonderful captures of the Barred Owl! When I was there at Corkscrew a couple of year ago didn’t see any owls. Thank you, Carol. 🙂
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Glad you got to visit Corkscrew, HJ. I’ve been there quite a few times without seeing any owls, though I know it’s a favorite haunt of Barred Owls.
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Spotting any owl is always exciting for me!
Hearing one call never fails to get my adrenaline pumping.
Thank you for sharing your experience!
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Me too!! Thank you for taking part vicariously!
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This owl is so majestic and beautiful! So sublime and amazing! Loved your blog, birds are indeed so wonderful🐦
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Thank you… yes they certainly are!
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silence is golden in places….I hate being followed on a trail by people who talk constantly
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Absolutely! …. I also treasure the peace and quiet. I was so lucky that morning!
Interesting that you should mention it, because just today, at another preserve, there was a group walking behind me, chatting. I tried going ahead quickly at first, then decided it was better to just stand still until they all went by 😌.
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Good for you. I always fell so lucky when I have similarly magic encounters.
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There’s nothing like being there all alone – just you and the bird in the quiet 😌
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WOW!! That last profile shot!! Such wisdom and wonder! Like a newborn and an elder all in one!
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Wow!! What a beautifully worded thought, Yaffa!♥️
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