Not too long ago, our whole family decided to take a long trek through the countryside east of our property. We started out early on a Saturday morning. By Sunday afternoon we had just about reached the borders of our property when we heard a loud roar or howl or something, coming from the nearby group of trees. “What was that?” I said brightly.
One family member said, “what noise?”
One said, “I dunno!”
One said, “A lion!” No, wait. That was me.
One said, “It’s a frog!”
One said, “It’s a Megascops asio!” I answered, “Now now, keep your language clean. For the kids!”
And one said, “It’s an Owlbear! Run!”
We didn’t hear anything else as those of us who didn’t run away stood silently waiting for something to happen. A while later, everyone declared me the best and most qualified to go check it out and as the “Royal Holder of the Short Straw.” I wanted to make them proud.
So I gathered up some twigs as weapons, and inched forward. As I stepped under the first tree, the scream pierced my eardrums as it was right beside me! I whirled around and there it was, on a low limb, not more than a foot in front of me. An adult Megascops Asio! An Eastern Screech Owl! I froze! And the owl just sat there and watched me. Unblinking. Turning its head, it stared at my family through the leaves. Then back at me. “It watches everything!,” I thought.
And so, here is a representation of “The Watcher” in all her glory. Ever watching. For what we’ll never know.
A Boldbrush Contest Fav15, March 2020
- Subject Matter: Pet portrait
- Collections: Bold, Shadow and Light, Wildlife