Another sub-adult?

 Just as I was still feeling special (lol) after my recent open encounter with a sub-adult Buffy Fish Owl, I received news of one found on the ground, and the immediate thought was it must be injured.

And of course, it was, for one normally does not find an owl on the ground unless it's a flight down for a prey.

Unfortunately being away at that time, I could only advise that the little one should be returned to a high branch as soon as possible, that the parent would return to retrieve it.

When I arrived in the late afternoon to check in, the juvy was once again down on the ground, either on its own accord or it fell again.

Perhaps it decided to drop down for that flowing water below where it was placed, and there it lied even as we approached for closer inspection.

Looking simply adorable, one felt almost guilty for delighting in its proximity!

Fortunately a parent was still around on guard as it closely monitored our movements, I guess against predators, man and beast!

On guard sans action could be rather boring, I supposed.

Was there a happy ending?

I could only hope so as the juvy was left there on the ground with the parent still on watch, towards evening.

I returned the next day and finding no feathers, either whole or broken on the ground, I decided to be optimistic.

P/S  So all's well after all when the sub-adult reappeared a week later accompanied by both parents!

'AAwl', a daytime dream

 An uncharacteristic appearance, a seemingly irresistible probability of a catch, a distance too close for comfort ... but ingredients that made for a birder's dream, then that slipped away ever so smoothly, too soon.

Playing hide and seek as one sought, and the other hid.

Looked like it was going to relax, but for its avian instinct, sensing another's presence through twigs and leaves.

And too soon, the dream that glided in ever so silently, slipped away just as silently.  The amazing silencer and slickness of an owl's flight.

For what had drawn it suddenly, out and down, I would not know despite attempting to scan like it did.

Glad to be proven wrong

 I had thought it strange that this hyper alert and hyper sensitive Striated Heron would fledge at the tiniest of a waft of my presence as it usually did, or perhaps it thought it was well hidden from my view by the leaves and branches, and so it held on to its perch as if frozen except for the occasional stretch of the neck.

And so I approached slowly to test how close I could get to it, and pretty close going by the following uncropped image.

But lo and behold, instead of this one fleeing, what emerged from down below was shockingly (to say the least) a Buffy Fish Owl on a bright late morning, that obviously was perched below the Heron which explained its unusual frozen behaviour!

The Big One fled into the nearest cover right across the river, and as I tried to scan its presence, it suddenly flew out, a gorgeous being, slowly and soundlessly right past me into the densest foliage further up the river.

My first regret was the inability to obtain a single image of this One but on second thought, to witness it flying ever so lightly and gracefully up the river with all the glorious expanse of its wings outstretched did more than made up for the lack of any still image!  Phew!

More on the 'burung hantu'

 More images of the stunning Buffy Fish Owl.  How can one not adore this one!

The presence of a changeable hawk-eagle circling above did help to get this bird to stay put momentarily.

It did look like it was caught between a rock and a hard place.

One more look at 'those human creatures' and it made its decision!

And away it went!

An 'aww' wish!

 One wish came true - that I would get to redo my images of the Buffy Fish Owl with my present gear - and it did ... all thanks to a walker who alerted me.  Knowing that the bird has fled did not deter me from seeking it out, and determination paid off.  It merely went deeper and higher into a corner.

And it was actually watching me all the time, searching for it!

Gorgeous, gorgeous looking bird!

And then I guessed it didn't mind me around as it took in its surrounding.

And it looked like it's a cosy corner to snooze .....

but it was not to be ... more to come...

More on the BFO

Can't seem to have enough of this fella.
     The Buffy Fish Owl is common to forested area near water, and often close to human habitations, which could explain its presence here.  Its diet includes fish, frogs and insects, plenty to be found in the taman and surrounding area.
     Females are larger than males but it's difficult to establish here which is which.  Its yellow eyes with black rimmed eyelids seem to draw one towards it.  Just love the distinctive tousled ear tufts that point sidewards.  Notice how it to has a stern smiley face, and with penetrating looks.