Fly out was sudden and the owl went a few trees to the east, but folks had trouble seeing it.  I played a hunch and went to the east side of the Delacorte Theater.  I was joined by a photographer who was watching his first Barred Owl.

After about five minutes we heard two hoots and thanks to the photographer who had great night vision, got to see it on one of the stage posts.  It then few off, but returned to a branch about 20 feet from the Turtle Pond dock/blind.  It stayed for at least five minutes giving us wonderful, if very dark looks.

Wonderful sights like this really heal my soul.  New York City gets a little crazy at Christmas time, but this was so joyous and restorative.

(All pictures taken without flash.)