[Maine-birds] Buzzed in Buxton by Barred Owl

Hey Guys

I've just had one of the strangest bird experiences ever. I wonder if anyone else has had the same?

As usual, I was walking our two dogs, a Scottish Deerhound and a Papillon, at around a mostly still dark 6:15am, along with William, our 15lb tomcat who always walks faithfully along with us.

We were making our way along Laura Lane in Buxton, a small, single track private road cut through the woods and were buzzed by a very large and silent flyer, who sailed past my head by a foot or so. I guessed owl because of the size and lack of sound but wasn't 100% sure.

Anyway, the dogs and I returned to the house after another 10 minutes. I walked them into the garage, put them inside the house and realized, as happens nearly every time, that slow-coach William was still somewhere on the street, though I could hear his "where are you?" caterwaul.

As William ran down the driveway and up to me, I scooped him up and just as I straightened up, I almost had the Owl in my face, swooping down with wings fully outstretched. He (or she) made a quick decision to break off the "attack" and flew into one of the trees by the side of the house.

I was speechless. The Barred Owl (easy to tell when he's nearly in your face) must've followed us along about a half mile of road. I can't think what s/he was trying to do. William would surely have been a little too large to take?

Anyway, quite a morning for us!

—mco

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