Having found the Eastern Screech Owl the other day, yesterday I went hunting for a Burrowing Owl who is located not far away. I had driven there Wednesday but only found a feral cat hunting on the rock piles where the bird was reported.

Yesterday afternoon, the first thing I spotted was a Loggerhead Shrike and then another feral cat. “Great,” I thought, being pretty sure that the bird would be laying low.

Feral cats are everywhere in Texas — and while pretty, are quite devastating to the bird population.

However, as I scanned the piles of rocks along the dike, a Burrowing Owl was perched up like nothing was amiss.  This is the best look I’ve had at one — and I took a few shots through the open truck window as the guy/gal posed.

The Burrowing Owl appears to be diurnal because it can often be seen foraging during the day. In fact, it hunts all day and night long and is most active in the morning and evening. It catches more insects during the day and more mammals at night.

“Hey, you looking at me?”

I plan to return with Mary to see this guy again once the cold front winds die down. It’s a great bird.