Long-eared Owl follow-up

I just received the following, wonderful e-mail from my friend, Mary:

"I arrived [in the park] before dark, and encountered Roberto Cavelleros who had spotted the bird. He set up his scope and we got pretty good looks. Then we just stood and waited, watching the owl wake up, preen its feathers, its talons, shake a leg, shake another leg, stretch a wing, etc. Then it hopped down a branch, then another so it was in the open (now around 5:15). As we watched it look around and prepare to fly, it suddenly just dropped out of the tree, gliding silently over our heads. It was amazing. Well worth the wait. We thought we saw it across the Butterfly Meadow a little while later, but not sure. This was magical.

Mary"