Barred owl seen from speeding car. Again. This makes twice since Thanksgiving this has happened. Last time, I shot a few from inside the car, but when I got out, it flew away.

This time, I pushed the boundaries. I shot a few photos from inside the car, then walked slowly across the street, waiting for the owl to fly off.

It didn't, simply swiveling its neck to look at me, brown eyes alert. I paused, and it relaxed again. I took another step...a photo...another step, over the snowbank. With the crunch of the snow, the owl again looked my way...and right at me. We held that gaze for a few seconds, and, seemingly unconcerned, it looked away again. Perhaps it was searching for something in the snow below. Perhaps it was trying to stay warm. Perhaps it was just tired. I stepped forward again...an was greeted by that owlish gaze, liquid brown knowledge. It was a cold day, but that's not why I shivered just then.

I shot a few more photos, the owl watching me, until it made itself tall, looked out and above me, and took off in complete silence across the road and off into the safety of the trees, leaving me happy and thanking the universe...again.

I. Was. Giddy.