Northern Saw-whet Owl: Magee Marsh Boardwalk, Oak Harbor, Ohio, May 2026 — You just never know what you will see at Magee! This Northern Saw-whet Owl settled in a bushy tree right beside the boardwalk, and some sharp-eyed birder or photographer caught a glimpse of it, deep in the foliage, as they passed by. They reported it on eBird, and the ensuing crush of birders and photographers trying to find a clear line of sight through the heavy leaves lasted all day. We were only just around the corner when it was reported, and could not miss the instant flow of rapid traffic on the boardwalk, all headed the same way, so I asked what was being seen. I don’t generally chase birds, but we were close, and it is a very special bird, hard to find even in its own habitat, so we followed the line to the source. The crowd was not huge at that point, so I did manage a somewhat clear line of sight. The owl was very aware that its hiding place had been found, but not all that perturbed, and I am certain several thousand photos were taken over the course of the day, and going on a thousand birders got a look. The Saw-whet is one of the smallest of owls—7 or 8 inches tall and weighing a mere 2-5 ounces (about the same size and weight as a Bluejay, but almost perfectly round, so it looks a bit larger). Obviously, it is mostly feathers. Sony a6700. Sigma 16-300 Contemporary at 450mm equivalent field of view. Program with bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.