Looking back

The tawny owl flew across our path as we descended the south side of the Knott, through the dense yews and beeches.  It landed on a branch to give me a long lingering look over its shoulder, while I fumbled with the lens cap, waiting long enough for me to snatch a few unlikely shots in the shade.  I was impressed that with a barely perceptible shift of perch position, it rotated its head through almost 360 degrees from a look over the left shoulder to a look over the right.  Then it was gone, still calling but invisible in deep cover.

It was a walk of encounters. The first was with Knottman on the top of the Knott, who hailed me as Gus and I were heading down hill from what he calls the giraffes.  Knottman is a wise owl of considerable energy, but it is unusual to seem him on the Knott at this time in the morning.  Looking back through his blips, I found the reason. It's his annual ritual of climbing the Knott in the early morning, part of the celebrations for another year spent on our beautiful planet. Happy Birthday, Ken!