Right now I’m staring at an 18 inch tall Barn Owl, or should I say, he is staring at me! 

There are so many birds around here. Every now and then an American Bald Eagle shows up. We see Osprey diving for fish every day. We watch baby Mockingbirds hatch, baby ducklings paddling hard to keep up with their mamas and, while it’s hard to match the patience of a Blue Heron or White Egret, occasionally one will gulp down a fish right before our eyes. 

In the winter Cormorants descend on our lake and “herd” fish toward the shore so they can feed. The herons and egrets, which for most of the year are very territorial and spread around the lake, form an uneasy truce to attend this food festival. More than 50 of these giant birds will swarm our dock. 

There was a time when I was too busy for such wonders of creation. But now, when these treasured moments occur, I stop and take a nature break. 

Does it disrupt the work I had planned to do? Sure. But I would rather be 10 minutes behind schedule than lose my staring contest with this owl.