Yesterday morning I went down the Sundew trail, as I do at least once almost every day. I stopped at the sound of chipping in the bushes. I seldom resort to pishing to view a bird. This little one was not showing itself, but was chipping in a very interesting way. I thought it might be a new species. So I pished him out, and he turned out to be a White-throated Sparrow (which I've seen before, but always appreciate). An American Redstart came over to join in the hubub, and I really enjoy watching them. They're so pretty, and darn cute when they lean down and fan their tails. I was watching Redstart more than usual because of this. Suddenly, I saw a pair of yellow eyes below the passerine. The Great-horned Owl had been in my binocular view the whole time I was watching Redstart, but was so camouflaged against his tree-trunk that I didn't see him until he turned around and blinked at me with his beautiful feathered-eye-lids. He only seemed mildly alarmed at my presence. Redstart was being very brave indeed, scolding so close to the predator. It was such a coincidence that I had decided to pish when a predator was actually nearby. I apologized to Owl for blowing his cover, and continued on down the trail.
A little bit further down, I heard the scratchy call of a fledgling GHOW, who was perhaps attempting to communicate with the adult in response to the disturbance. I went off trail a bit (don't tell) and tried to find him. For a bit, I was going in circles as the young owl seemed to be moving around. Then, I saw him, high in a spruce tree, still wreahh-ing. All I could see of him were his fluffy juvenal undertail coverts and his strong taloned feet grasping the spruce branch, and his tufty "horns" poking up past his head. He then pooped and flew off towards where I had left the adult. I smiled and made my way back to the trail to walk on down to the coast.