I was exploring off the beaten path when I heard a sudden fluttering. To my chagrin, I had completely missed a burrowing owl skulking somewhere in the underbrush, and it was now glaring at me from atop a rock.
These owls are tiny, topping out at about 9 inches tall. Unlike most owls, the females are slightly shorter than the males. Even when you’re looking for them, they’re hard to spot. When you aren’t looking … chances are you still won’t stumble over one given their reduced populations, but you can never know for sure.
With the owl cheeping indignantly and glaring, I took a few photos and then backed off. I wasn’t able to locate its burrow near where I first disturbed it, and it had disappeared when I peeked around the corner again.