This bird continues to haunt our property. While heading out to close -up our chicken and duck enclosures for the nite, I noticed this guy lurking over our old tool shed. As it was not too dark, I went back in and grabbed my Z9 with 500pF attached. As I walked up for a good, close shot-about 25 feet away- I tried the eye blink trick. It worked! I closed my eyes after staring at the owl for a bit, then slowly opened them. The owl repeated the eye closing and I photographed it!

We then went and completed the close-up process. I noted a large-ish rat nearby so I highlighted its with my flashlight. The rat only moved when I approached it. It ran around our large duck house back to an old felled tree. The owl swooped in and grabbed that rat! We heard the rat scream then we saw the owl take off with the rat in its talons. Almost dark-4:55 PM PST so no photos came out.

The next day my wife noted a strange-looking mass on the back lawn. Further inspection showed this mass to be the hair, claws and tail of a large rat. Did the owl "reward" us with the remnants of the previous night's catch? Or just saying Thanx! The images of the owl pellet were not useable.

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