The squawking and flapping of the crows was easy to follow and it was no more than a dozen steps before I saw what was causing the commotion.  Down slightly, maybe 50 meters away, just to the left of the 9:00 sun, was the owl.  The owl I had decided to somehow find on film before I leave.  I had seen him once, maybe more than a month ago.  It was only last week I decided to catch him.  And today was my first day out at dawn.

I adjusted my position and angle for attack.  I would have liked to have been on the lower path that earlier branched down to the stream.  I broke snow on that path only a week before.  And as the owl saw me change direction it lumbered through the trees over my left and sat on a limb just west of the original path.

I took 30 pictures after finding a better view.  We sat and stared at each other for a good half hour.  I decided to make a peace offering and return home. It was a good introduction.

This is a Downy Woodpecker.  I think owl is a Northern Saw Whet Owl, but am waiting confirmation.

A waybill, however I can't remember what species.