Rare Sightings of Great Horned Owls at Bloedel Reserve

Rare Sightings of Great Horned Owls at Bloedel Reserve

If you love birdwatching at Bloedel Reserve, this is an exciting time. Great Horned Owls are not seen here very often, so when they do make an appearance, it feels special. Thanks to Ollie and Grace Oliver, who have been doing regular bird counts since 2019, we now have two confirmed sightings. The first was a juvenile in June 2023 and the most recent was an adult spotted on Sunday, August 3, 2025.

Keeping Track Since 2019

Ollie and Grace have been monitoring the Bird Marsh since July 2019 and began doing counts almost every week in 2021. They note whether they see or hear each bird, which gives us a clear picture of what is happening in the area.

Two Rare Encounters

The first sighting happened in June 2023 when they spotted a juvenile tucked into the foliage (pictured to the left). On August 3, 2025, they saw an adult Great Horned Owl perched on a moss-covered fallen alder tree near the bench along the Bird Marsh boardwalk. It stayed for about ten minutes and was even seen cleaning its beak on the thick moss (pictured below)

The Olivers have also recorded hearing Great Horned Owl calls several times, including in November 2022, January 2023, and twice in May 2023, but actually spotting one remains very uncommon.

Owl Dynamics

Grace shared an interesting detail about owl interactions at the Reserve. Barred Owls are known to threaten Spotted Owls and Western Screech Owls. However, Great Horned Owls sit higher in the food chain and will even prey on Barred Owls. Because of this, they are less affected by the spread of Barred Owls in our area.

Where to Look

Both sightings took place in almost the same spot. The owl was seen perched on a mossy fallen alder supported by salmonberry thickets, which creates a perfect resting place. If you are hoping to catch a glimpse of one, this is the area to keep an eye on — and an ear, too.