Stopping by the park

Exactly three years ago, I photographed a pair of Striped Owls, with my family, right in the middle of Panama City at the very popular Parque Omar (here the photos).  Today, my friend Osvaldo Quintero showed me this Striped Owl almost in the same site, over the tennis court:

Striped Owl

The Striped Owl is rarely seen in Panama City, where there is little available habitat.  This individual was discovered due to the droppings that appeared each morning on the court since some days ago.  A second individual had just left the site, according to the tennis players.  This owl is beautifully patterned in warm brown, white and black... and have the conspicuous ear-tufts associated with owls by the non-birders.

Striped Owl

After some shots, I left the site with the owl exactly in the same site.  If you want to see it just check the branches above the tennis courts over the droppings.  Happy birding!   

A beautiful Owl

Sometime ago, I went with my family to El Valle de Anton to show them some of the local attractions, including the zoo.  Personally, I don't like zoos... but someone told Gloriela that they were exhibiting owls, and both Gloriela and Gabrielle love owls!  I have to admit that I enjoyed the visit... until we found the owl... simply a sad sight, locked in a tiny cage, evidently depressed if I can use this term in this case.  You can see the poor Striped Owl in the next photo if you enlarge it.

Slightly frustrated, I proposed to myself to show them a wild Striped Owl in all its brilliance, free in the nature.  Thanks God, Osvaldo Quintero facilitated my task yesterday when he texted to me that a pair of these beauties was resting on a tree in Parque Omar, right in the middle of the city.  I went right away with Gloriela and Gabrielle... but it was already dark when I managed to crossed the city in the peak hours of traffic jam... and the birds were not there.  We returned this afternoon... and the birds were there!

They are by the tennis court.  You can't enter there, but the owls can be perfectly photographed from the fence, as we did.  The place keeper told Osvaldo that the birds appeared more or less ten days ago.  My photos has nothing to do with Osvaldo's pieces of art... the birds were in backlit and the day quite cloudy.  However I was glad to see my two girls watching an owl as it should be!

I didn't see any cavity in the tree, nor any courtship display or anything alike... probably they were only resting... simple like that!

Thanks Osvaldo for sharing this with us!