My Owl Encounter

[angieh]

Just a few photos from my Owl Encounter yesterday. My hubby had given this to me for my birthday back in July but this was the first available time to do it. I had a fabulous couple of hours and would recommend it without hesitation!

"Ed", the European Eagle Owl
http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc44/angieh_bucket/Holidays/Special%20Occasions%20and%20Outings/Owl%20Encounter/DSC_0105_zpsd3ed8f54.jpg (http://s215.photobucket.com/user/angieh_bucket/media/Holidays/Special%20Occasions%20and%20Outings/Owl%20Encounter/DSC_0105_zpsd3ed8f54.jpg.html)

He looks fearsome, doesn't he? Here is the owner of the owls, Sally, with her very favourite boy, just to prove otherwise!
http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc44/angieh_bucket/Holidays/Special%20Occasions%20and%20Outings/Owl%20Encounter/DSC_0100_zps0eed3023.jpg (http://s215.photobucket.com/user/angieh_bucket/media/Holidays/Special%20Occasions%20and%20Outings/Owl%20Encounter/DSC_0100_zps0eed3023.jpg.html)

I am embarrassed to say I can't remember what sort of owl this is ..... she is new to the collection and although probably fully grown is not completely mature yet.

http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc44/angieh_bucket/Holidays/Special%20Occasions%20and%20Outings/Owl%20Encounter/DSC_0063_zps8c225a9c.jpg (http://s215.photobucket.com/user/angieh_bucket/media/Holidays/Special%20Occasions%20and%20Outings/Owl%20Encounter/DSC_0063_zps8c225a9c.jpg.html)

http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc44/angieh_bucket/Holidays/Special%20Occasions%20and%20Outings/Owl%20Encounter/DSC_0067_zps33e44fa5.jpg (http://s215.photobucket.com/user/angieh_bucket/media/Holidays/Special%20Occasions%20and%20Outings/Owl%20Encounter/DSC_0067_zps33e44fa5.jpg.html)

This is an Asian Wood Owl, and like the previous bird is a new member of the collection. She is still a young 'un and her plumage is still developing.
http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc44/angieh_bucket/Holidays/Special%20Occasions%20and%20Outings/Owl%20Encounter/DSC_0075_zpsdf632351.jpg (http://s215.photobucket.com/user/angieh_bucket/media/Holidays/Special%20Occasions%20and%20Outings/Owl%20Encounter/DSC_0075_zpsdf632351.jpg.html)

http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc44/angieh_bucket/Holidays/Special%20Occasions%20and%20Outings/Owl%20Encounter/DSC_0082_zps2eb92e3d.jpg (http://s215.photobucket.com/user/angieh_bucket/media/Holidays/Special%20Occasions%20and%20Outings/Owl%20Encounter/DSC_0082_zps2eb92e3d.jpg.html)

Here is the lovely little Moon, a grey phase Tawny Owl, which was my favourite.
http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc44/angieh_bucket/Holidays/Special%20Occasions%20and%20Outings/Owl%20Encounter/DSC_0042_zps4a3a6cb2.jpg (http://s215.photobucket.com/user/angieh_bucket/media/Holidays/Special%20Occasions%20and%20Outings/Owl%20Encounter/DSC_0042_zps4a3a6cb2.jpg.html)

http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc44/angieh_bucket/Holidays/Special%20Occasions%20and%20Outings/Owl%20Encounter/DSC_0054_zps671e0a07.jpg (http://s215.photobucket.com/user/angieh_bucket/media/Holidays/Special%20Occasions%20and%20Outings/Owl%20Encounter/DSC_0054_zps671e0a07.jpg.html)

I'll post some more in a separate thread.

[PoshPuss]

These have cheered me up today Angie, thanks for sharing. I love little Moon too, and what a marvellously appropriate name :)

[Kim]

Great pics, glad you had such a good time.

[Shelley123]

Beautiful birds Angie

[yola]

They're lovely. Wouldn't get up close and personal with them but I can see (through my bird-phobia haze), that they're stunning.

[angieh]

Interesting you say that Yola, one of the chaps in our little group yesterday was phobic. His fear had been triggered when as a young lad starting in the building trade, he'd been told to go and clear pigeons out of a loft through a hole in the roof. His silly "mates" had then thrown stones up into the pigeons and made them flock around him. By the end of the session, he was holding an owl and stroking it. One bird is easier to deal with than a flock and the lady was very gentle in her dealing - it wasn't until the end of the session that anyone else knew he'd had a problem.

[pamela81]

beautiful photos, the owl really is a stunning bird. I have handled an eagle before. The feeling of having a bid sitting on your arm is great, being so close to them!!

[yola]

That is an interesting therapy Angie. I did come across some owls in a local garden centre a couple of years ago - the boys were fascinated so we stopped to talk to the chap. Turns out he uses the owls as therapy for all kind of folk; prisoners, pensioners, those with learning difficulties etc.

I was very, very tempted to stroke one, but the minute it opened its wings and made that flapping sound I nearly passed out on the spot!

It's worth giving some serious thought to though, because in a controlled environment where the handler is aware of the issue it might just do some good.

[angieh]

PM me Yola if you'd like me to send details of the place I went to. I'm sure your boys would love it too! Must be very hard not to influence kids if you have a phobia of that sort.

[yola]

Thanks Angie! I'll need to steel myself for a while before I even get close to getting enough courage up . . . the boys think my phobia is funny. It is their job to remove feathers from the garden (lots of eye rolling) and chase pigeons out of my path. Dom is my champion chaser whereas Seb tends to miss-time things and usually ends up sending the birds directly at me :shock: