Barred Owl at Peavine Creek

This morning at daybreak was blustery, about 60°F with hurricane remnant drizzle, and on mailbox #317 near Peavine Creek there sat a Strix varia just staring at me as I walked past. I stopped once I realized it was a big bird, not a tree branch on the mailbox, and stared back. Motionless for about a minute, it released its grip on the door clasp and flew off over the house and into its backyard. We often hear these in the summer nights hooting "who cooks for you, who cooks for you - all".