“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

“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 

“The Circle of Life”

“The Circle of Life”

Judy Royal Glenn Photography 

*A Northern Harrier, a.k.a. the Gray Ghost, downs a mouse at Cades Cove, Tennessee last week, amidst the scorched landscape from a controlled burn. The landscape seemed other-worldly.

It was neat observing the Gray Ghost soaring through the Cove. As he flew, he banked right and then disappeared behind a hill. I wanted to see where he went, so I topped the hill to see the harrier plucking a mouse—striping it of its fur. Before long, there was a white ring of fur surrounding the harrier.

One day, all will change when Christ reigns over the earth. The Bible states, “The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the young goat, and the calf and the lion and the fattened calf together; and a little child shall lead them.” (Isaiah 11:6, ESV.)

 

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 #CadesCoveTennessee #NorthernHarrier #GrayGhost

All Kinds of Critters

“All Kinds of Critters”

Judy Royal Glenn Photography

One of the reasons I love Cades Cove is because of all the critters I can find there. Of course, my favorite critter is black bears. There’s just nothing like them!

There are plenty of other critters in the Cove as well. There are coyotes, deer, all kinds of birds, including two different owls, boars, bobcats, and butterflies. You can’t beat seeing the trail horses run through the pastures after a hard day’s work.

The other reason I love the Cove so much is because of its sheer beauty. It is Heaven on earth.

The photo shows a pileated woodpecker.

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

A Moment's Rest

“A Moment's Rest”

Judy Royal Glenn Photography

There are many creeks in Cades Cove, Tennessee, where wildlife visit to get much-needed water and food.

Creeks are a great place to find barred owls. They are usually hunting there, but sometimes they need a moment's rest.

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

Stark Contrast

 

“Stark Contrast”

Judy Royal Glenn Photography

On January 3^rd, 2022, my friend and I drove the back roads of Townsend looking for things to photograph because Cades Cove was closed. We had the best time.

When I saw a black cow in the pasture in front of me, I started running down a snowy road towards it. You would have thought I saw a bobcat or something more interesting to photograph. I was so excited!

The cow kept walking up the snow-covered bank until he reached the top where another cow was standing. The trees were a snowy white and made for a stark contrast. I was giddy as a schoolgirl!

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

https://www.judyroyalglennphotography.com

Location: Townsend, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains

“Season of White”

“Season of White”

Judy Royal Glenn Photography

Winter is fun when blanketed in snow. Beautiful landscapes become amazing when draped in snow-covered trees and branches.

My friend and I went exploring the back country of Townsend. We never knew what was around the corner. This sight was gorgeous!

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

https://www.judyroyalglennphotography.com

Location: Townsend, Tennessee

You’re Not Alone

“You’re Not Alone”

Judy Royal Glenn Photography

 

I first noticed this black bear yearling in Cades Cove last year as he was running across the road. My first glance was a bear butt as he entered the woods. Before long, he was in a field sitting all alone.

 

Mama bears give birth in January and stay with their cubs for about 16-17 months. Watching their bond is amazing to witness. She devotes her life protecting them from danger and teaches them what to eat.

 

  The sad part occurs when she must chase them away. June rolls around and it’s mating season. She allows the yearlings to stay in her territory but avoids those areas. When she does encounter them, she chases them away. 

 

Yearlings must figure out things on their own. Eventually, they become confident, independent bears and start a family of their own.

 

The good news is we are never alone. It may feel like it with the quarantine because of the Coronavirus. But God is with us every step of the way. No matter what we have done, he still loves us.

 

God said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5)

 

I hope you have a “beary” good Memorial Day Weekend!

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

www.judyroyalglennphotography.com  

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

#CadesCove #GreatSmokyMountainsNationalPark #blackbears

                 #CadesCoveBears #GSMNP

Owl Jam

“Owl Jam”

Judy Royal Glenn Photography

Wildlife deserves the right of way in Cades Cove, Tennessee especially when a momma black bear and her cubs are crossing Cades Cove Loop Road.

The backed up traffic caused by tourist stopping to view the bears near the road is called a “bear jam.” It is expected and patience is required.

This particular day, the long line of cars seemed like it wrapped around the entire Great Smoky Mountains National Park. When we got to where the wildlife was spotted, it wasn’t a bear but a barred owl.

The owl was hunting for fish in a creek right off the main road. We were following it around like the paparazzi. The owl eventually flew across the road and posed for me on top of a dead tree.

Check out those talons!!

The photograph of him on the tree can be view here.

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

www.judyroyalglennphotography.com

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