17th Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Mobile
I'm a Hoot, Guarding My Catch

I was mountain biking at the Sherman Branch Trails outside of Charlotte, NC when this owl flew right by my face with a little black mice in his talon. He perched on the tree real close to me and just stared at me as if to say, "It's mine, you can't have it". I was trying to get my phone out of my jersey pocket without him flying away and had no idea what I had captured until I got back to my car. It was a magical moment!

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 10.2019
Date Uploaded: 11.2019
Photo Location: Charlotte, North Carolina, United States of America
Camera: SM-G960U
Copyright: © Caroline Smith