Me and my favourite owl

[bk_forever]

Had to go out in the freezing cold today, but it was worth it for this. There was a craft fair in the town square and the Raptor Rescue Centre was also there. They even had my favourite owl with them this time, so I finally got a photo that's good enough to share.

Her name is Galadriel and she's a Great Grey Owl. Just after this was taken, she decided to fly back to her perch out of the wind, but as she was attached to the gauntlet I was wearing, she almost took me with her. I ended up half over the barrier and she had to land on the ground. She's strong! I'd still hold her again though.




Isn't she gorgeous?

Comments

[excentric397.livejournal.com]

Hello. Sorry I missed lunch, but this owl I was holding decided to take me for a short flight. LOLOL Owls are amazing creatures, aren't they? How lucky you are to get to actually hold one, although it kind of was holding you, not the other way round. :)

[bk_forever]

Yes, in the end she did try to take me for a fly. I didn't care, holding her is a privilege.

I held a female Buzzard last time because Galadriel wasn't there, and I've held an Eagle Owl and a Barn Owl at other times. Maybe I'll try one of the smaller owls next time, there was a lovely little Scops Owl there today, a young Harris Hawk, a Tawny Owl, two Barn Owls, and another large hawk, but I can't remember what that one was. I took photos of them all. =)

The Raptor Centre is great, caring for injured birds that can't be returned to the wild and raising awareness. Birds of prey are my favourites.

[m-findlow.livejournal.com]

That's one big owl, no wonder she nearly took you halfway across the square! How much do they weigh?
Reminds me of feeding the lorikeets at the bird sanctuary when I was a kid. There were so many perched on the end of my bowl that I though my arm might drop off (and they're only little birds!)

[bk_forever]

According to wikipedia, around 1,290 g (2.84 lb) for a female. She doesn't feel all that heavy though. I think Galadriel might be the biggest I've held but the eagle owl a few years ago was pretty big too. Maybe I'll try a little bird next time

The weight mounts up when you've got a lot of birds, plus you have to factor in the weight of the feeding bowl and contents. I used to breed and show zebra finches when I was in my teens. They're tiny. My ex-brother-in-law bred budgies.

[lexxiescott]

Oh, wow, she is beautiful! I guess if you had to be out in the bad weather, this was the ultimate reason for you to go.

[bk_forever]

Well, I had to tax my new car, so Galadriel was a nice reward for making the effort! You know me, I love all owls and birds of prey, but there's just something about the Great Grey Owl that's extra special. There was a cute little White-faced Scops owl there too, I'll have to try him sometime!

[lexxiescott]

She's definitely a nice reward for what you had to do to get the new car taken care of. I'm just glad you still have your mum's scooter so you didn't have to walk back *again* with the paperwork. Why is official paperwork always so bloody difficult?

[bk_forever]

I don't know.

I can barely walk at all today, my legs and feet hurt so badly. And on top of that,. I've got a bad headache. *sigh*

My old car will be taken away tomorrow, which makes me sad =(

[lexxiescott]

Not surprised, and hope tomorrow is better for you. Can you take a hot bath, maybe?

That's sad. :-( It's always hard to lose an old car.

[bk_forever]

I wouldn't even be able to get in the bath at the moment and it's too cold in the bathroom anyway. It's 1 degree outside!

I've only had Bluebell 4 years!

[lexxiescott]

To quote Bugs Bunny, "ooohhhh, YIKES!" That is way to bloody cold.

That's not a long time at all. Guess the previous owner was rougher on Bluebell than you were. It's sad.

[bk_forever]

The problem is that I don't drive enough. The underside of the car picks up more corrosion by sitting around cold than it would if it was being driven regularly and it's the corrosion that's done her in. She still drives perfectly, stars first time, it's just that the corrosion is so bad it's too big a job to be worth doing.

Yes, it's way too cold.

[lexxiescott]

That makes sense. Is she going to auction?"

Hopefully it warms up quickly for you guys.

On a side note, your bday package is going to be a little late. I'm holding off until after I get back from my trip incase I find you some crystals in Portland. :)

[bk_forever]

I'd practically forgotten it's nearly my birthday o_O Guess I'm focussed on the day after, the anniversary of mum passing away =(

No, someone is picking her up but I don't even know if I'll get anything for her because I forgot to ask. I'm so stupid sometimes. I have nowhere to keep her offroad unless I leave my new car in the drive, which would invalidate my insurance because I stated that I keep my car in a locked garage at night. So I have to part with her as soon as possible. Otherwise. I would have tried to sell for spares or repair.

[lexxiescott]

I know that's going to be a hard day for you. Like I said, email me if you need to. I'll have my phone with me.

You've just got too much on your mind right now. Things will work out.

[bk_forever]

I hope so *sigh*

My car didn't get picked up today, weird, no one even phoned!

Tonight its a year since mum went into hospital. It's so strange to think that. Only a year, but it feels like forever, and only yesterday at the same time. I suppose I expected to feel different in some way today, but I don't. It's just another day.

[lexxiescott]

That's weird. You would think that they would at least ring if they weren't going to be able to make it. *sighs*

In a way, it's probably good that it feels like any other day for you. I know that it's going to be hard for you on the day you lost her though. Hang in there. :)

[bk_forever]

I'm still hanging in.

Still no contact from the car guy, so I'm not sure what I'm going to do.

Nearly time for your trip!

[lexxiescott]

FCOL, you might have to call him up tomorrow to see what's going on. Which is totally not something you should have to be worrying about right now. *sighs* Makes me want to come find the guy and poke him with a stick.

It is. *grins* I fly on Thursday.

[bk_forever]

I'm leaving it until next week, I can't be fiddling now, not with my birthday and the 20th so close. Earlier this week it would've been a different matter, but I have enough on my plate.

Tomorrow is only a day away! *twirls you* If I don't speak to you before, you and perky have a terrific time!

[lexxiescott]

I don't blame you a bit on that one. *sighs* It just sucks that you have to deal with this on top of everything else.

I'll have my tablet and phone with me, so I'll be checking in during the trip. *Grins* We've got the gem shop on the schedule and I'll keep my eyes out for black moonstone for you.

[bk_forever]

Hope you have an awesome time! Sounds like you have so many fun things to do =)

[akawho.livejournal.com]

She's beautiful...

[bk_forever]

She really is, and getting to hold her is an amazing experience!

[sassysailorgirl.livejournal.com]

Stunning creature! I can see how you fell in love with her!

[bk_forever]

This is the second time I've held her, but last time photos were taken on my very primitive phone and they were so small you could hardly see anything. She is so beautiful! The other owls and hawks were gorgeous too, but I've loved Great Grey Owls since the first time I saw one on a nature program.

[too-beauty.livejournal.com]

What a nice bird! They are incredible intelligent and they are the Greek symbol of wisdom and History!

[bk_forever]

They even LOOK wise!

She is incredibly beautiful. I love all birds of prey, but especially owls. I wish mum could have lived to see Galadriel.

[owensheart.livejournal.com]

Bootiful birdie.

[bk_forever]

She is, isn't she? I love owls =D

[twinsarein.livejournal.com]

You are very lucky to get a chance at holding such a beautiful, regal looking bird. She looks as though she feels she is the queen of all she surveys. Definitely worth braving the cold for.

[bk_forever]

It's the second time I've held her, but the first time the photos were taken on my phone and they weren't good.

She is so gorgeous, I'd hold her again despite her deciding to fly off this time!

[nightchild78.livejournal.com]

Oh, you're so lucky! I really envy you. Galadriel is so beautiful. She deserves her name. Magnificent! Thank you for sharing this picture with us.

[bk_forever]

I really was lucky! Lots of other people were holding other owls and hawks, there were four other owls and two hawks there, but I was there for Galadriel because the last time I held her, the photos taken on my phone were too small to share. I'll probably hold a different one next time, now I've got really good pictures of Galadriel.

Glad you liked seeing her!

[kul-breez.livejournal.com]

So COOL!!!!

[bk_forever]

Isn't she the most amazing bird? She almost looks like she's knitted! LOL! She's very real though.

[kul-breez.livejournal.com]

She's gorgeous!

[daniforblue.livejournal.com]

Wow! How wonderful for you. I've never seen an owl at close range. I envy you. Such a beautiful creature. And so big. I think I would have been too scared to hold her. You are really brave.

[bk_forever]

The owls and hawks at the Raptor Centre are very tame, otherwise they couldn't be used for educating people about them. there's really nothing to be afraid of. When I get them uploaded to my computer, I have pics from Halloween of me holding a female Buzzard called Jess. She was fabulous too, but owls are my first love. I'll have to see which birds are in the town square in a couple of months and decide which to hold then. They have little ones too, there was a Scops Owl, he was only about 7 or 8 inches tall, very cute! I held an eagle owl once, I think he might have been a bit bigger than Galadriel.

[black59.livejournal.com]

gorgeous

[bk_forever]

She really is!

[weeping4eva.livejournal.com]

Didn't realize you loved Owls also. She is beautiful.

[bk_forever]

Owls (and other birds of prey) are my favourite subspecies of birds *grins* Great Gray owls are my favourite owl.

My favourite bird overall is the swift.