Ural Owl, フクロウ parent and child

End of May, I didn't expect to see them this year. But I was wrong. M. kindly sent me a message and I was just in time to see 1 chick and 1 parent. The baby was already high up in the tree, looking down at us with a questioning look.

One of the parents was perched nearby, keeping an eye out for the crows.

I didn't see the other parent at all. Maybe there was another chick in the nest, with Mum attending to it.

Owls in the trees, フクロウ

I was wondering what was happening with the Ural Owls around Fukuoka. Did I get to see any? Thanks to a message I made it, just in time to see a chick and a parent.

Just a few days old - high up in the trees (already) Watching us with intrerest, so it seems.

Watching from below. Could there be another chick in the nest?

Ural Owl chick, フクロウのひな

 The chick was already a few days old, maybe a week even, before I could see it. It had moved higher up to a place that was difficult to see, but I found it Lucky!

In the same area: Eastern Crowned warbler, センダイムシクイ

A family of Japanese Tits, シジュウカラ

And to my big surprise an Orange Hairstreak, アカシジミ appeared around 4:30 pm

The time to add small stuff has come

Owl chicks, Ural Owl, フクロウ

  An overdose of cuteness that finds you longing to reach out for protectiion and cuddles かわいすぎる!

I was extremely lucky to run into Mr. M and Mr. M who had spend a long time scanning the trees before they found them and were just about to leave. They kindly pointed them out to me.

first chick

a parent

Followed by 2 other chicks. These 2 disappeared at one stage and I spent an hour looking for them...

... but not without success

Dad again (I'm not sure, but I think this is a male)

Ural Owl, フクロウ

Late May 2 owls were at the usual place. The one that I thought was male sat up high and didn't move much. The other, female? chased some other birds away and stayed in the dark tree close to the nest. What was in there? The big blacko hole that is the entrance looked clean. Maybe some chicks? It's hard to tell.

male

female

Ural Owls, フクロ

Japanese shrines are often surrounded by big trees. These trees are some of the few that survived the 2nd World War, when all other trees were filled to supply the necessary wood. Now these trees are a home to birds, a place where they can build nests safely. Like this pair of owls. The parents have their favourite pozzies up high and spend the days sleeping with one eye open. Their nest is in a hole in the tree nearby.

The 2 owlets left the nest 1 day after the other. The last one was still not used to his wings and sat on the ground for a long time. It moved to a low rooftop the following day and that's where I found him

The elder sibling was already high up in the canopy, hiding between the branches.

 So adorable, these balls of fluffy feathers. I hope they will grow up to be strong enough to live in this ever changing world of us.

Ural Owl, フクロ

Before the first typhoon and before the heavy rains, I went to see this family of Owls
Resting up in a high tree it took some time to locate them and I only saw one parent, maybe Mum, but there were 2 chicks and they were stars of the day!

 

Just about 3 weeks old... still too young to survive by themselves, but full of curiosity and eager to explore.

HI!!

 My sibling is sitting on the left, can you see him?

 There he has come out a bit. 

One of the parents again. Didn't move a bit, just watched the kids.