Observant owls prefer to watch,
and not be seen.
At twilight we sing, muted duets.
They swoop close, ruffling my hair.
Letting me know they see me clearly,
as I go slowly blind in the deepening dusk.
Cheers to you from the all seeing owls~
Splendid creature!
Yes!!! Thank you~
Amaaazing!
They are! <3
We have an owl in our Sequoia, I can hear him, but he never lets me se him. Beautiful photos!!!
Whoops – see, not se.
Yes. This is how it goes. I usually can see their shapes after dark and we sing to each other but they avoid being seen.
I talk to my owl, and really get a kick out of it when he answers back (or at least I think he is answering back).
They do answer back! I get swooped occasionally by the second owl who is annoyed at me for taking their place in the duet!
Hmmm, I may need to rethink my conversations with my owl. Being swooped by an owl would be a bit disconcerting.
Once again jawdroppingly amazing shots, Cindy! What a beauty.
Love and hugs coming your way,
Dina, Klausbernd, Siri & Selma xo
Gratitude, love & hugs flying back to all of you! <3
Your owls are really beautiful, Cindy 🙂
Long time ago, I saw one myself in nature.
Seeing one is a big thrill so I well understand how you remember it!
Oooh, such a beautiful owl…
They are mysterious and beautiful aren’t they!
Love owls. Thanks for sharing these great photos.
Thank you more for loving owls~
Stunning shot…
Grazie mille~
Gorgeous. Beautiful photographs of an amazing being. By the way, Resa and I need help…we don’t know how to take care of our Christmas cactus. (Mine’s pretty new)…so any help you can give us would be appreciated. I wrote to you on my blog and so did she. LOL HELP I think I just over watered it.
Place it in the sink over the drain and let cool water run through it and drain completely. Let it sit there for a few hours to drain. I do this once a week. I also water them occasionally in the shower when they are not blooming. Just put them over the drain and let cool water rain down on them. This keeps them dust free. Keep your cactus in a sunny warm spot in your house. They love being in corners with a window on each side. After the Christmas bloom is complete, I feed them with Miracle Gro houseplant food. That’s all they need and they should bloom for you more and more each year. You also can transplant them into bigger pots if they are outgrowing theirs. I do this in the spring. They are such fun plants! If you think you over watered yours, just let it drain over the sink drain. Over watering is a problem is the roots stay wet . Happy Christmas blooming my friend! <3 <3
Perfectly captured the expressions through words and clicks .Amazing
Ahh, honored & humbled~
Thank you for these stunning and beautiful photographs!
Thank you more for appreciating them!
Reblogged this on charles french words reading and writing and commented:
These photographs are stunning and beautiful, and I had to share them! Please visit Cindy Knoke’s blog: https://cindyknoke.com
Your thougtfulness is motivating and encouraging Charles. Thank you.
Gorgeous photos Cindy. I love the details of the owl, contrasted with the soft green background.
Thank you Brad! They are beautiful & mysterious creatures~ 🦉 🦉
Pingback: Owled~ — – milibro2016blog
Whenever I see an owl, I am reminded about Winnie the Pooh’s quote: “Some people talk to animals. Not many listen thought. That’s the problem.” I really think you are an owl whisperer, Cindy!!! Hugs and love coming your way…
I wish I were, just like Harry Potter! I have never lived among owls until I moved to The Holler. I find them mysterious and amazing and I can count the times I’ve seen them clearly mid-day on the fingers of one hand. They will talk with me, but only as it starts to get dark. They are wonderful aren’t they. Hugs to you my dear Rebecca~🦉🦉🦉
Great photos, Cindy. We have owls in our woods and hear them calling at night. Or they’ll sit in the trees and watch us walk under them. They’re a favorite bird 🙂
Lucky you! They really let you SEE them!! They are fabulous creatures~ 🦉
We don’t see them often. We catch a movement and then have to focus and wait for another movement. Nothing like your photos though.
Wow fantastic owl photos Cindy! I adore owls! Gorgeous eyes, My favorite is the one with his week open, I can imagine hearing him hoot in that photo! Hugz Lisa and Bear
Each owl seems to hoot in his/her own cadence and rhythmn! 🦉
Beautiful photos… from love owls… reminding us of our wisdom and hidden magnificence… love to you x barbara
What a lovely interpretation!
Cindy, these are wonderful!
They are pretty owlish!! 🦉🦉
They really are quite wise.
Leslie
They see what we cannot~
You take the most amazing photos Cindy. Were you or are you a professional photographer? These are just more examples of your stellar photos!!! 🙂 <3
Awww, you sweetheart Natalie. I am a rank amateur, never took a class and just starting taking photos around five years ago, which just shows one should always be open to trying new things~
No sweetie not everybody takes great pics like you do no matter how long they work at it! You definitely have an amazing gift in photography‼️❌⭕️
Gorgeous creatures…
I love them!!! 🦉
Great pictures!!!
Thanks my friend & Happy Sunday!
Please have a Happy Sunday too!
<3 <3
Thank you, Sue, for these incredible photos.
Thank you more for your thoughtful appreciation~
They are magical creatures, it’s like their eyes can look into human souls.
And they can watch us while we can’t see which is quite owlish of them! 🦉🦉
Great owl pics Cindy. Enjoyed them very much.
Cheers,
Frank
So glad you did and cheers to you~
Oh, those eyes! What an exquisitely beautiful creature – great snaps, Cindy.
They look like magic birds, almost too pretty to be real!
Amazing!
They are and I never stop thrilling to their nightly calls~ 🦉
Fantastic photos especially under difficult lighting conditions
The darker it gets, the more their eyes start to glow!!!
I knew that you would have had a reason
Cheers to you too,Cindy. 🙂
& 2U dear Ranu~ <3 🦉
Beautifully photographed, Cindy. Would you just look at those eyes! Amazing. To me there is always something so profoundly mystical about owls. Mega hugs.
They are 3M’s, magical, mystical and mysterious! 🦉🦉🦉
Fantastic!
They are gorgeous creatures! 🦉
Absolutely glorious images, Cindy! I am in love with owls and you’ve captured this guy with amazing clarity and colors. Love the beak open…all have great light.
They are the ultimate obscure bird object for me, so tantalizingly close often, but so impossible to photograph!
I don’t know how you do it! Those are stunning photos of owls. I LOVE them! They are beautiful birds that I will never see in anything other than a photo so you have brought one almost to life for me. Thank you.
I can count the number of times I have clearly seen owls on the fingers of one hand and this includes the one that sits nightly on our chimney and sings with me. I can only see the murky outlines of him!
Absolutely wonderful, Cindy. Your words are as beautiful and moving as your photography, my talented friend.
Awww, and your kind words just made my night! Thank you and cheers to you Penny~ 🦉
So beautiful! Your pictures warm my heart, Cindy 🙂
Your comment just warmed my <3!
Owl be darned. WHO is on first.
UR Ow-lowed 4 HOOTs! 🦉🦉🦉🦉
OWLstanding, my friend! ♡(*◎v◎*)♡
🦉🦉 ♡(*◎v◎*)♡ 🦉🦉
Great pics..love the one with the open beak…
I was interested seeing this too. Now we know what he looks like when he says hoo hoo hoo!🦉
Aww so cute – the first one is wearing a particularly long-suffering and disapproving expression 😀
I am sure for very good reason too!
😀 Camera shy? 😉
First off, I love you title so much that I’m going to endeavor to use the word “owl” as a verb from now on! 😀
Aren’t owls gorgeous? These images bring to mind all the wonderful up-close interactions I’ve ever had, handling owls at a raptor center and so on. This one, the subject of your photography work, seems pleasantly vocal!
Your work at the raptor center would have been so interesting to me. I would be owled to be able to hold an 🦉!! They are magnificent creatures aren’t they, probably the most mysterious and hard to see bird for me which makes them all the more enticing. We understand each other. Be well my friend~
Beautiful creature.
Yes he (or she) is! 🦉
Champion specimen 🙂
I do think his coloring was especially beautiful. Thanks my friend & hope all is well with you~
Outstanding photos, Cindy and wow, I feel as I’m right next to the owl. The feathers look so lush, like fur or a tight knit jumper. They always look so wise, knowing…as if I’ve missed something very important.
I suspect we have missed something(s) very important, and the owl would like to tell us, if only we could understand him. I feel this way about lots of wild animals, almost as if they see us clearly and have feedback for us which we can’t decipher. I would imagine fairly critical feedback too, which we certainly deserve! Wise old owl~ 🦉
Beautiful birds. Great pictures, Cindy. 🙂 — Suzanne
Ah, so happy you enjoyed our 🦉friend~
Cindy, you couldn’t have known Owls are my very favorites!! Such glorious shots here — the detail in their feathers, the intelligence in their eyes, the strength in their talons. ‘Tis a true delight for me to visit here this morning and see these amazing creatures — thank you!
Your comment made my morning. 🦉’s thrill me too. They live at The Holler, and I hear them nightly, but very rarely see them, and even more rarely am I able to get a shot of one. Seeing one for me, as for you, is a big event. So nice to be understood. Cheers to you Debbie~
So wonderful pictures! I enjoy to seeing them. I wish you a nice week !
Ah, thank you kindly and a wonderful week to you too Christina! <3
Great pics. Sometimes I wonder when I’m “talking” to birds, cats, etc if it’s coming out as something meaningful, pure gibberish, or if I’m insulting their parentage.
Tee hee, if it was the latter they would let you know and fly away, maybe leaving a gift in range of you! I have seen seagulls do this, purposely poop on a people who harrass them. Penguins vomit on you if they don’t like you. Aren’t you glad you getting all this icky information? I do think birds read people. Science is just beginning to understand the complexity of bird intelligence. They also respond to imitated calls, so at the very least, they might appreciate our efforts! 🦉 So keep on talking to the animals. They appreciate it (and so do I !)
I once had a kitty who looked like an owl — even moved her head like one. These are stunning, Cindy. Exquisite detail. Shared across my pages ♥
You are such a sweetheart Tina. People like you are why I so love blogging. Be well my friend~
🦉
As you know, I am an avid bird lover. Owls particularly fascinate me. They look like scrunched up eagles. I love their piercing eyes. I use to have a photo blog and have several pictures of owls from around the world. I have been lucky enough to hear an owl once and it was so cool. My friend went to the Florida Everglades and took a photo of two owls awake in the daytime! The photos are great. I always enjoy your comments below each one. A wonderful photo story! <3
Strange. My response to your comment disappeared. I know just what you mean about an owl looking like a “scrunched up raptor.” They do, especially in flight, they look like they have no neck with their head directly fused to their body and those wonderful flat faces. Ususally I can identify an owl in flight just at it leaves my visiual range. Sorta like, “Oh, that was an owl!” Laughing……They are my ultimate obscure object of photographic desire. I am so pleased we understand each other perfectly about the magic of 🦉’s! Have an owlishly good day my friend~
Amazing!
Grazie mille!
I have never been this close to an owl so I thought this was great! Look at those huge eyes 🙂
Aren’t the eyes gorgeous! They appear to glow with luminescence. So happy you like the handsome 🦉!
My god, they are beautiful!
Maybe that is why they hide from us! 🦉
queste superbe creature qui in Italia sono considerate portafortuna, altri invece il contrario…ha ha
io le adoro! nelle tue immagini si possono quasi toccare
felice sera Annalisa
Sono contento che sono considerati fortunati in Italia! Intelligenti Italiani! Alcune persone non amano i gufi, ma io sono molto contento che si fa Annalisa & Saluti a voi il mio amico~ 🦉🦉
Wonderful captures Cindy… the eyes especially 💛
Aren’t they luminescent and a gorgeous color! 🦉
The light in the wonderful photos is intriguing. It looks like dusk is still at least an hour away, but the owl is alert and eager to get going. Maybe last night’s hunts came up short?
You are perceptive.. I have seen great horned owls hunt during the day two or three times. They do sometimes, especially in winter. They are formidable predators which I have only seen in nature videos and will even go after the ever present ravens~ 🦉
Thanks for the info. I knew that some owls hunt by daylight, but not that the great horned sometimes does.
<3
Those eyes Cindy!! Love your bright vivd photos. How was your Thanksgiving? Hope it was the best back in the Holler.
It was wonderful thank you Rhonda and I just stood on the scale today and my weight is fine! Woo Hoo! Hope your holidays are merrry and bright my friend & cheers to you~
Thanks Cindy– so fun to hear from you! (and I wish my scale had such good news!). xo
I read your post, but wasn’t sure who was in the hospital. Whomever it is sending healing thoughts and prayers~ <3
Thank you Cindy- you’re so kind.– my mother (85) had 2 small strokes and I’m with her now at home hopeful she’ll recover well.
I am so sorry to hear this. I hope she does recover well. My mother is 89 and her sister 91. Her sister is not doing well for the first time. It’s very hard for them and hard for you too. You have my empathy and best wishes <3
So dear Cindy. It’s a new chapter of life for them and for us too. xo
I stood on the scales after TG day and they groaned !!!
I couldn’t believe mine weren’t worse. I have no idea why, but I am going with it!
They are fascinating birds.
Amazing clarity! What a beauty, Cindy! 🙂
Thanks Amy, he reminded me of Harry Potter’s owl~ 🦉
Nicely caught, especially considering the low light. 🙂
I think the last one is saying “Alright you’ve got your shots, now be off with you”. 🙂
I think he was saying that from the beginning. Owls only tolerate being around me when they know I can’t see them! Smart old 🦉!
Not to worry. One day you can go to sea in a beautiful pea green boat. We will expect photographs of course. 🙂
Hello HW – I missed stopping by but am back and definitely not disappointed in what I am seeing through your lens!
Lovely to see you here Antionette! Hoping your holiday was wonderful and your sons will be home for Christmas! <3
Yes, he was home to vote and then on Thanksgiving.
Lovely! 🙂
My favourite is the one where he/she seems to be talking to you 😉
I would imagine saying some version of, “Get out of here before I swoop you lady, your wrecking my hunt….”
😀 Sounds about right… 😉
Absolutely beautiful!
Peta
They are gorgeous,amazing creatures! Thank you~
Absolutely stunning. Love love love.
Aww, sending that love back to you~ <3
Reblogged this on Smorgasbord – Variety is the spice of life and commented:
Cindy Knoke with some of her fabulous photographs of birds of prey.. This owl is stunning..
Hugs and Happy Holidays to you sweet Sally! The 🦉🦉 and I appreciate you! <3
The feeling is mutual Cindy you have brought some wonderful images from around the world into our living rooms this year. ♥
<3 <3
I love owls, Cindy. Thanks so much!
Owls are magical creatures & thank you Olga!
The wise Owl, silent in flight but they are watching, Thank you for sharing, :o)
That silent flight is amazing to wittness isn’t it. When the owl ruffled my hair, it was dark, and I had no idea he was there unitl he was! Incredible!
Pingback: Owled~ | SUSANNE LEIST
M.a.g.n.i.f.i.c.e.n.t.
I’ve always had a thing for owls as my younger granddaughter. Go figure. Her too. o_O
You are both smart to love 🦉🦉. They are elusive, magical creatures!
Quanta elegância dessa coruja! Vi uma das fotos no facebook e fiquei encantada, agora, mais ainda!
Obrigada! Abraços a voce meu amiga querido, gentil e saude tambem! 🦉🦉
😜😜
What a hoot, lol. Seriously incredible close ups. Beautiful Cindy. 🙂
I was totally owled seeing him!!! 🦉🦉
Lol 🙂
What an intriguing wonder of nature the owl is. Their eyes hypnotize!
They seemed cloaked in mystery, active while we sleep, and stealthily avoiding us, smart creatures~
🦉
Once again ur pics astound me!!! I like be owls and u captured this fellow perfectly…thanks for sharin Cindy😍👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
Thank you more for your thoughtful appreciation~ 🦉
U r indeed worthy Cindy-I always find ur pics an inspiration😉😎😸👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽
Reblogged this on The Owl Lady.
The 🦉🦉 and I thank you!
You’re very welcome, Cindy! @v@ <3
I love owls – always have! I have yet to see one in the wild, though…beautiful captures of them, here.
🙂
I have seen then more since I moved to The Holler, but they are still quite elusive. I have been able to really see them maybe four or five times in my life.
Reblogged this on Random Ramblings; Myriad Musings and commented:
I love owls…I have yet to see one in the wild! Beautiful photos, here…thank you, Cindy!
🙂
The 🦉🦉 and I appreciate you!
*HUGS*
I would have to believe that owls are one of the most unseen birds that exist, Cuz. I saw a snow owl ou
(cont.)…out on the runway at the airport here years ago and a barn owl on the farm when I was a kid, but not much since then. How did you get so close to them for such great pics? 🙂
That’s amazing that you saw a snowy owl. I hope to see one next year but honestly 🦉🦉 are the most elusive birds to really see. We have nesting pairs of great horned owls at The Holler, and they sit on our chimney at night and in our oak trees and we have serenades. But in terms of really seeing owls clearly, maybe four or five times in my life.
Splendid pictures! ~~dru~~
Mille grazie! 🦉
Cindy:
You have some remarkably close and clear photos. Very nice work.
Nicely arranged blogsite as well.
I manage a blog for our Santa Monica Bay Audubon Society chapter; take a look if you get a chance. It’s very different than yours, but still (almost) always about birds and birding.
If you especially like owls, you might be interested in this posting about owls in the bible:
https://smbasblog.com/2016/10/09/dont-eat-that-bird-sunday-morning-quran-bird-study-viii/
I am now following your blog! Gorgeous and extensive catalogue and photos of so many species! Most impressive. We need some Audobon members at The Holler. I can’t keep track of all the species. I do know our county has more species of bird than any other in North America, and since The Holler is mostly unoccupied and rural we get so much variety. Very pleased to meet you & will enjoy following your blog~
At the top of my wish list is to see an owl in the wild, and of course, if I am very blessed to snap its photo. Beautiful shots. In college at the bio station where I worked, someone brought in an abandoned baby saw-whet owl for us to find a home. Since then they have held a very special place in my heart.
I feel the same way about 🦉🦉 as you do. I see them so infrequently even though they live at The Holler and call to each other from our roof and trees almost every night. I can see their silhouette’s at night. I have probably actully seen owls clearly five times in my life. They are so elusive. I can’t find their nests. Caring for a baby owl must have been fascinating. I assumed more people saw them more regularly than I do. My husband said he saw barn owls a lot growing up in Iowa.
Maybe Santa will bring me a photo op with an owl for Christmas. We voted to not care for the baby owl (more than the day we oohed and ahhed over him). He was taken to the Rosamond Gifford Zoo (Syracuse NY) where they care for baby animals. He was quite pleased when they fed him his bird of prey supper.
Those eyes 🙂
They were greenish! Amazing 🦉 eyes!
<3
Love his/her eyes! Wonderful color <3 You were lucky to spot this beauty!
Amazing creature isn’t he! The eyes definitely are magnetic~🦉
Simply raptor-ous! The owls are incredible, Cindy!!
You get the words for my thoughts perfectly. Amazing that you do that!
Love the beautiful Owls! Outstanding Photography! They are a Hoot!! Now I give you Jazzy Owl Jolson! I Wanna Singa!!
https://youtu.be/ytR7-wT0Qqw
Okay this is the best thing EVER! But now I am seriously worried. I played it for our owls just now who are hooting about and they have NO CLUE how to singa about a sky for blue or a tea for two, or how to singa! My owls are jazz regressed. We need to call this guy over to:
http://ticklebooth.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/10/jazzsingerClipBoard-2.jpg
jazz ’em up FAST!!!
Reblogged this on Still Another Photoblog.
The 🦉🦉and I thank you for your thoughtfulness!
You are welcome!
Sensational owls! Your photos are stunning 🙂
Ahhh, the 🦉🦉 and I thank you!
I love owls! Fascinating! One of my favorite activities I used to do with my students was dissecting owl pellets. They were enthralled and grossed out! It was awesome!
I took a scatolgy class in college. I loved it, except for the gathering of samples which I wasn’t so keen on, but it was fascinating detective work, similar to following animal tracks to determine behavior. You should have seen the profs lab! He had more at home too! Laughing…..
Reblogged this on penpowersong.
Thank you my friend and be well~
I love owls, Cindy. My grandies like their fuzzy feathers and the commercial where the male owl doesn’t listen to the female one cracks me up, Cindy! 😀
Your photographs are fabulous! xo
Hugs and Happy Holidays Robin! 🐦
Thank you, dear Cindy. <3 Cheers to you and yours for a wonderful holiday season.
I am so thrilled my work week has finally changed to 40 hr weeks after 50 hours since April!
Eeeks! You need a vacation~
I spent my 3 weeks of vacation up at my Mom’s senior living apartment. Lol I at least had a few day trips with brother to beach and oldest daughter came up and we went garage sale-ing. Ha ha, it is good to still have her around and sets a precedent for my kids who drove up at Thanksgiving with an entire meal and the combination of 7 grandies to see my Mom. Driving 3 1/2 hours up is hard but they sleep all the way home. Plus we had all the grandkids in a casual photograph with her. xo
Sounds like a lovely vacation Robin with the people you love, doesn’t get better than that my friend~ <3
WOw Cindy all you photos are so wonderful. Just wanted to leave a quick note. Hugs to you 🤗
Ahh, so nice! Thank you & Happy Holidays~ 🦉
Happy Holidays to you too! 💕💕🎄
Thank you Cindy for the like. 🙂
<3
Reblogged this on Still Another Photoblog.
The 🦉🦉🦉 and I thank you!
Beautiful pics
Thanks much Arti & cheers! 🦉
Thank you Cindy. 🙂
Cindy did you see this posting? Stupendous, just like this one! ~~dru~~
https://tofinophotography.wordpress.com/2016/12/19/mating-song/
Oh yes we know each other well and I am huge fan. We almost met up when I was in his neck of the woods recently but I didn’t have enough time. I plan to though, next time I am in Tofino. He’s a great person and an amazing photographer~
I love owls. I love their solitude and watchfulness…my kitchen is filled with owls (not live ones but dishes, silver ones, feathered ones – friends and family have showered me with books of owls and scarves and notepads…..
You are an owl lady! It would be impossible for me not to love an owl lady. They are magnificent creatures!
these are all stunning but that third one is Amazing!!!
The 🦉 thinks you have excellent taste! 😉 😉 Thank you Morgan & cheers to you~
Wonderful photos, Cindy! I especially love the one with the owl looking forward with his beak open. 🙂
Thank you! Owls are incredible creatures aren’t they!
Stupendi primi piani d’una creatura fascinosa e misteriosa dei boschi
Buona domenica, silvia
Grazie mia cara amica Silvia დ
Prego, buona domenica
დ