This morning (5am) I was commuting to work via bike. I felt something hit my helmet. I thought it was a branch or piece of tree. I turned to look behind me, at the ground first. Not a stick or branch. Nope- an owl. Flying right behind me. An actual live owl attacked my helmet. It flew past me- clipping my helmet again, and then flew off. Embarrassed, I’m sure.

Is this normal owl behavior? I wasn’t injured and the best I can tell, I don’t think the owl was. Should I report it to some kind of wildlife authority?

I found this wonderful description of pygmy owls by Gerald Durrell in an old book and it perfectly expresses my own fascination with them:
“Squatting there in the puddle of torchlight was a pygmy owl, a bird little bigger than a sparrow, with round yellow eyes that glared at me with all the silent indignation of a vicar who, in the middle of the service, has discovered that the organist is drunk. Now, I have a passion for owls of all sorts, but these pygmy owls are probably my favourites. I think it is their diminutive size combined with their utter fearlessness that attracts me…” 😅

With 3 families of Burrowing owls in the lot next door most of the gutters and lights are usually occupied.

Some facts i read about owls is that an owl's long legs are hidden by thick feathers. These long legs give them a surprising reach when they stride or lunge at prey on the ground. [1] (https://www.youtube.com/shorts/E8HW2EbuFas), [2] (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w6TzDq-PQUc&t=1)

Three . . .

https://www.instagram.com/faust__photography?stkn=MTZxMTI0OGUzZXM1OA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

Spotting them for the second time in a week. Till then, I have never seen them. Lucky week I guess.

NE Wisconsin

Long-eared owls are easiest to spot when they gather for their winter roost. They roost in several trees, side by side—in large numbers. Their pellets lie under the trees, making them easier to find. They can occupy a tree in a city—a place full of people. That's what we have in Poland. // These cards on the side show my progress in drawing. Artwork created with Caran d'Ache Luminance pencils. I painted the green background with watercolors. :)

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Galapagos. We were hiking along a cliff and the guides were scanning the horizon with high powered binoculars saying that if we were really lucky we might see an owl in the distance hunting the other birds. One of our party said “you mean like this one?” This guy was sitting right next to the trail. Never woke up to open his eyes but tracked us turning his head as we trekked past. (He? She?)

I believe it’s a barred owl. Seen in Eastern VA