Amazing! We spotted an adult Barred Owl only a few feet from the trail. What a delight. They are such a striking bird. And, for once, the owl was a poser. It stayed in the tree and watched as several other hikers stopped to admire it. After taking many photos with the Nikon and the iPhone 13, we continued on the trail.

It was a nice weekend day in mid-summer. It was a good time to do the four-mile loop hike in the Tualatin Hills Nature Park a few miles west of home. The 222-acre Park surrounds the confluence of Cedar Mill Creek and Beaverton Creek.

It is a remarkably diverse wildlife preserve with wetlands, forests, ponds and streams. The trails’ names tell the story – – – Oak, Owl, Old Wagon, Vine Maple, Big Fir, Cougar, Chickadee, Cedar Grove, Ash, Serviceberry, Big Pond, Trillium Loop and Ponderosa Loop.

The highlight of the hike was clearly spotting the owl, but we also enjoyed seeing the squirrels and bunnies along the trail too. Always a pleasant place to visit.

Chicory, Spiraea and Oregon Grape

Barred Owls can turn their heads around a long ways