This photo was taken in the summer of 2018 near the Inverness golf course.

The Northern hawk owl breeds in the boreal forests and turns up occasionally in southern Canada and the northern United States. They are one of the few owl species that hunt primarily during daylight hours. They are of medium size with an oval-shaped body accentuated by a long pointy tail and wings. Normally brown in colour with bright yellow eyes.

They reside in open coniferous or mixed forests along open areas & marshes where they hunt. Their diet consists of small mammals, especially voles during the summer months. They have been known to hunt birds as well to supplement their diet. They can detect prey by sight up to half a mile away and even under a foot of snow during the winter months. They often store their catch in tree holes and crevices to dine on at a later time.

By Darren Murphy