Great Horned Owl

It is always exciting to see a bird for the first time.  I have never seen a Great Horned Owl before.  I wouldn't have even known it was there if someone hadn't pointed him out.  I had to shoot through a lot of foliage to get this so it isn't the greatest shot. The owl's back is facing us and he has turned his head 180 degrees. 

We met up with an old friend of mine from high school at the Phoenix Desert Botanical Gardens very early this morning.  He is a world-class photographer whose work hangs in galleries along with Ansel Adam's work, with whom he studied.  Having lived in Arizona and New Mexico most of his adult life, he is very knowledgeable about the flora and fauna so was a great guide to have at the gardens. It was nice to catch-up.  You can see some of his work HERE.

After the gardens we took a tour of Taliesin West, which was Frank Lloyed Wright's winter home during his later years, as well as his school for architects.  To this day they have a three-year graduate architecture program for about 20 students at this site.  

We still managed to get back in time for the wedding which was at 4 pm.  

Backbliped 12-9-2018