“Stunned or Sleeping?”

“Stunned or Sleeping?”

Judy Royal Glenn Photography

Thursday before sunrise, while driving on Laurel Creek, I spotted something tiny in the road in the other lane. I passed by and immediately thought, is that an owl? I had to return to see if it was.

If the object were an owl, I did not want it to get hit by a car. It may have already been hit and just stunned or it could’ve been sleeping, but why wouldn’t an owl be sleeping on the road?

I finally found a place to turn around and returned to the object in the road. As I got closer, I noticed it was a screech owl. Screech owls are only 7 to 10 inches tall.

Since I parked in the middle of the road, I turned on my flashers. I took a video as I approached the owl. The owl never moved. I saw two cars approaching in the other lane, and waved my arms to slow them down and stop. I looked back to the owl. It turned his head, looked at me and flew away.

I was tickled to death. If I didn’t see anything else in Cades Cove, I would’ve been happy as a lark. Over several hours I shook my head at what I saw. I pray before I photograph and ask the Lord to show me or bring to me what he wants me to photograph. I also saw an immature bald eagle, a coyote, a bear, a bat, a wood duck, and plenty of deer and birds.

This morning, I didn’t know it would be to save a screech owl’s life. The Lord blesses me all the time!

Sorry it won't let me upload the video.

 To purchase wildlife and nature fine art prints, please visit my website:

https://www.judyroyalglennphotography.com

 

Location: Great Smoky Mountains National Park

“Who Goes There?”

“Who Goes There?”

Judy Royal Glenn Photography

 

One of my favorite photographs to take of black bears is when they are standing on their hind legs. Bears can smell, see, and hear better while standing. Different scenarios play out. A mamma bear may search for her cubs in the tall vegetation, see if a male bear is approaching, or check out the situation.

 

Whatever the reason, I love it when they do so!

 

To purchase wildlife and nature fine art prints, please visit my website:

https://www.judyroyalglennphotography.com

 

Location: Cades Cove, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park

 

#CadesCove #GreatSmokyMountainsNationalPark #blackbears #bearphotos #bearphoto #bearphotography #GSMNP #CadesCoveTennessee #blackbear #SmokyMountains #smokies #GreatSmokyMountains 

“Fly! Fly! Fly!”

“Fly! Fly! Fly!”

Judy Royal Glenn Photography

 

The Lord blesses me all the time, especially with my photography. I was alone in Cades Cove searching for wildlife when I heard crows mobbing a predator. Mobbing occurs when a group of crows find a predator and call their buddies in to pester them.

 

I went towards the mobbing. Before I got there—short-eared owls took to the air. It reminds me of the wicked witch in the Wizard of Oz, telling the monkeys to “Fly! Fly! Fly!”

 

I was excited to get two owls in the same frame. The crow in my photo had no details—he was a black blob, so I left it that way.

 

There are many reasons people believe crows mob. The crow may be saying, “Hey, this is my turf. I’ve been here all year—you can’t show up for the winter in my area.” The crows then called for backups.

 

They could use mobbing out of self-defense to protect a nest/breeding area. Crows also prey on sleeping birds, so they may alert little birds by drawing attention to the predators. The crows also could want to have fun. Either way, it’s a great way to find owls!

 

I miss them already and look forward to their return!

To purchase wildlife and nature fine art prints, please visit my website:

https://www.judyroyalglennphotography.com

 

Location: Cades Cove, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park

 #CadesCove #GreatSmokyMountainsNationalPark #GSMNP #SmokyMountains #smokies 

#GreatSmokyMountains #shortearedowl #raptorsofinstagram #owl #owls #raptors