Wild Hoot Owl Staring in Forest Magnet

I captured this photograph of a hoot owl (aka a barred owl) sitting on a tree in the forest when I felt his huge black eyes staring at me one day. There are some holly berries visible in the background from a holly bush. I loved how his head seemed to turn almost entirely around so that he could stare at me. I took this picture right after the raptor had a run-in with a brave squirrel who crept along the tree branch several feet away from the old and told him off with a good scolding. The owl just sat there and looked at him and the squirrel ran off to safety. A happy ending!