For four years I have watched a pair of Great Horned Owls as they successfully raise their young near my home on the north side of Duluth. I took this pic of one of the owlets shortly after 6 am this morning, deep in the forest including its thick undergrowth.

I think the owl’s gaze is saying … you are not the most intelligent birder! Why that gaze by the owl in wonderment? In short, this morning I lost a very expensive pair of binoculars. How did I lose the binocs? Well, the undergrowth including the young buckthorn trees scratched my legs BIG time and to a lesser extent my arms. Given the heart valve I had replaced 18 months ago, I take blood thinner medication. Any scratches or cuts bleed profusely. The medication stops my blood from quickly clotting.

Eventually I noticed that not only was blood getting all over my legs (shorts were a bad idea), but I was now also getting blood all over my clothes (Molly would not be happy with me). Thus, I stopped to put on many Band-Aids (always carry some). My mistake was putting down my camera and binoculars while I was putting on the bandaids. At least I picked up the camera once again, but not the binoculars. I searched hard for the binoculars, but no dice.

The Moral of the Story: Recovering heart patients who are on blood thinner should not wear shorts while hiking off trail in the woods, or at least wear cotton knee socks (I have same). Molly told me the true moral is to just pick up your binoculars, and not be a forgetful old guy.

This was the first of the owlets I found this morning … before I lost my binoculars. I needed the binocs to confirm there was an owl up high in the crook of the tree.