The Owls Are Not What They Seem

Bob Haynie sent me this note, along with recent pictures of a different owl, from Washington State:



"I have been buzzed by two owls in my years here and it was impressive. When Peggy and I were driving down the hill once to the lower valley, one came zooming up along the hill and cut in front of the car’s passenger-side headlight. He swooped up into a tree and we stopped and looked at him for a while.



"About 10 years ago, we were coming home from a movie in Ellensburg one night and one did the same thing: swooped up just above ground level, came over the edge of the hill on the right side of the car, and shot past the passenger-side headlight. Startled the hell out of me. The speed limit on that road is 65 and I am sure I was doing it, as I always do. I told this to a raptor-specialist lady up in Traverse City and she gave me that 'You poor misguided fool' look and said it was impossible. All I could say was: nevertheless."