Penelope surprised in several ways on this March morning. She was out of the nest in a season in which she rarely leaves it. Her breast was soaking wet, much more so than could be accounted for by the drizzle that had fallen earlier. Perhaps she had plunged into the creek in pursuit of a fish, these owls do catch fish. She was agitated and restless, not typical behavior for these owls. She didn't stay in one place for more than a minute or two. Perhaps she was anxious to get back to her eggs.
On another rainy March day, we found Junior actively hunting in mid afternoon. He doesn't hunt during the day in wintertime and we think this behavior means he is feeding his mate, Penelope, while she sits on the eggs.
Here he is on another day, also actively hunting. See this month's Screen Saver for another picture of Junior.