You just never know…
Christmas Day in Kennebunk was bitterly cold with overcast skies in the early morning hours. I bundled up and drove over to the Wells Reserve just hoping to see the Great Horned Owl again. I knew that was asking a lot after just seeing it on December 23rd but I thought - you just never know. I arrived at the empty parking lot and it was glare ice. I parked as close to fresh snow as I could and put on my ice grippers on the bottom of my boots and off I went - face mask and goggles rounded out my outerwear - it was cold. I decided to head down the main path like the previous time and then my plan was to head right to the area where I had seen the Great Horned Owl roosting in that bittersweet…
The main path is nice and wide with trees and tangles of brush and bittersweet on both sides. For some reason I walked more on the left side of the path instead of the middle like I usually do. I had hardly started my walk down the path when I saw a flash of something up and to my left. I stopped dead in my tracks. I wondered - what the heck did I just see? I stood still and squinted trying to look through the trees and tangled branches. I saw a flash of movement again! In an instant it stopped again. The lighting was so so difficult as it was so overcast and before sunrise. I honestly thought - could I be seeing some kind of an owl way out on a dead snag moving his wings around getting ready to hunt? I still can’t believe that is what I thought because it really was just a flash of movement that I saw way in the distance.
I took two steps closer to the trees while trying to find some sliver of space where I could see through all of the tangled branches and then I know I stopped breathing …because in the grayest of gray early morning light on a frigid Maine morning…. there was a Great Horned Owl on a dead snag in the distance!
He instantly turned his head to the side…he was in hunting mode on Christmas morning! I figured I would only have moments before he took off after something since I know it must have been him flapping his wings that had initially caught my attention. I can’t tell you how much I struggled to find a better angle and placement in order to finder a more clear line of vision - no doubt there were thousands of tangled branches between us… I kept at it.
I moved slightly to my left and got down lower… and found a slightly better angle just as he opened his wings slightly -
You know that I wasn’t breathing - this was just too good to be true! Of course I would have loved the sun shining right on him with a perfectly clear view … but I have to say there was something truly magical at having to work so hard at getting even this line of vision on him in this very challenging light. This just absolutely filled my heart with wonder. I was seeing a Great Horned Owl in his element doing his thing on Christmas morning - wow….
He quickly straightened up and looked to his right again -
Then immediately looked to his left - I was 99% sure he was going to take flight any moment. I had a very quick decision to make - stay here or quickly walk along the path further to try and find a better angle.
I instantly picked up my tripod and bent down very low and moved quickly further down the path. I could see that I had a chance of a much better angle in about 20 feet further down the path… Could I get there in time? While I was moving I had no way to see the owl and he couldn’t see me - all I could do was hope that he was still there…. and my dear friends and family - it all worked for one beautiful moment. I stopped right where I thought I would have the best chance and as silently and fluidly as possible stood up and looked right where I hoped he would be - and there he was! What are the adjectives to use? Regal, grand, majestic …. you pick it - it was pure Lorraine Magic! I immediately took this photo and in the next instant he turned and flew away low and silently heading towards the woods - I was so in awe I never even pushed my shutter button again when he took flight it all happened so quickly… I still can’t believe this entire encounter happened - it just filled me up.
I just stood there to take it all in… how lucky was I to see a Great Horned Owl 2 trips in a row to the Wells Reserve? Once roosting and then on this morning in full hunting mode - just incredible. I finally got my breathing back to normal, gave thanks, and picked up my tripod and continued down the path. I took the turn off the main path to head towards where I had seen it roosting the previous time - I thought you never know maybe his or her mate would be there. Just as I started on this path I had a spectacular pileated woodpecker land so close to me I almost could have touched it! I have so wanted to see one this winter and have had only views from a great distance - this was just incredible! And then he was gone!
Needless to say I was feeling pretty overwhelmed this Christmas morning - the Great Horned Owl and now this spectacular Pileated Woodpecker just inches away from me. There are just no words to adequately describe when we are graced with the power and pull of our Natural world and the world beyond…
I continued along the path - not any birdsong in the air - just the roar of the Atlantic in the distance. I arrived at the spot where I had seen the Great Horned on the 23rd - nope - all quiet. I kept going taking my time looking up and down and right and left - no luck. How could I have asked for more? I had received gifts that are beyond measure.
I kept on. I decided to go further along this trail than I had ever ventured before - the soft snow was perfect underfoot. I eventually got to a point where I had to make a decision - keep going quite a bit further on a trail I hadn’t done before or turn back. By then I was feeling physically tired so I decided I should turn back - I still hadn’t seen another soul on the trails. I came upon an intersection that I had passed earlier and looked at my map of the trails. It showed that if I took the trail to my left it would take me along the fields and back to the main entrance and parking area. - perfect. I walked along the edge of the field in cross ski tracks that led me uphill - it was just beautiful. The sky was still very overcast but it was getting brighter. Just as I crested the top of the hill in the field I saw something to my right - a blue post or something - I walked over to it…
To say that I feel Lorraine’s presence with me constantly is an understatement… there is no doubt that she guided to me to this and was with me all morning long…
Just in case you couldn’t read this in the above photo -
I stood there and wept ….
I have said to many of you - I have a broken heart but I also have such a full heart. This Christmas morning was so difficult and yet at the same time so beautiful and filled with so many gifts. I am forever grateful for my life with Lorraine and for all of you that continue to come along with me on the road of life.
I walked across the field and back to the still empty parking lot. I put my gear in the car and gave thanks for all of the love in my life. I drove back and decided to set up near the river just in case…. and you guessed it… just as the sun broke through the overcast sky the loon silently drifted past me.
Thank you for coming along with me -