Flash flooding in Moab, Utah...

this week has hit the community hard, but it should not be entirely unexpected during summer monsoonal rain events. Two 100-year flood corridors converge in the heart of downtown - Pack and Mill Creeks - and flood hazard mapping shows that about 75% of the town’s center would be inundated. Increasing urban development and street-generated stormwater drainage probably exacerbated the situation.

FEMA’s flood hazard map for Moab, Utah. (Click on image to enlarge.)

Here’s more about the map shown above, including a legend and a zoomable viewer: Link to FEMA’s National Flood Hazard Service Center.

Fortunately there were no fatalities reported, just a lot of property damage. The cleanup: Image gallery at the Moab Times-Independent.

Portrait of my buddy...

Chappie from about a 20 foot distance. This individual owl is quite comfortable with my slow and close approach.

Juvenile Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus). (Click on image to enlarge.)

Later in the afternoon: Hey, mister, can I interest you in a wristwatch?

I’m shooting these owl images with my Canon EOS 5D Mark IV with the Canon EF 500 mm f/4L prime lens, handheld, at ISO 1600 in a shaded forest.

This wise young owl...

knows a good thing and can be reliably found on its perch above the birdbath nearly every morning. I absolutely love these magnificent creatures so I won’t apologize for posting too many photos.

Yet another image of a Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus). (Click on image to enlarge.)

Caught napping after my morning ride. I’ve been calling this one Chappie, because of the asymmetry of its hornlike tuft feathers.

Both my buddies, later in the afternoon. Their plumage is perfect camouflage against the bark of the ponderosa pines.

An inseparable pair of owls...

that I increasingly believe are siblings, based on observing their behavior and listening to their vocalizations. They hang out here together, both in the morning and in the evening, often side-by-side on the same limb, sometimes interacting with each other with their talons. Interesting and amusing.

Great Horned Owls (Bubo virginianus).

Here's your morning owl...

enjoying sunrise on one of its favorite perches above the birdbath.

Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus), appearing a little bleary-eyed after a long night.

Astonishingly tolerant of my nearby activities, this juvenile GHO has hardly moved from its morning perch over period of several hours. I truly enjoy co-existing in the forest with these flying tigers.

The second GHO has now joined the other, perching in the same tree but a little higher, and similarly at ease with my presence. I believe they’re both waiting for me to turn on the sprinkler.

EVENING UPDATE: These two GHOs hung out all day long, and here are a couple of more shots of these big birds.

Note the nictitating membrane moving across the eye, a transparent membrane to protect and moisten the eye while maintaining vision.

Smiling?

This juvenile owl...

is really going to enjoy the water sprayer I’ve configured in the trees today, having watched it hopping around in the sprinkler yesterday like a little kid, wings spread wide. It was 100° F with similar temperatures forecast for today and tomorrow, and what youngster wouldn’t enjoy the water?

Juvenile Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus) in the direct morning light, patiently waiting to play in the sprinkler.

Now nearly noon with rapidly warming temperatures, this youngster took refuge in a deeply shaded corner of my shed roof, wondering what time the pool opens.

Success! Happy owls enjoying a cool shower. They’ve both lingered within the spray for several hours throughout the hot afternoon.

Washed, dried and fluffed at the end of another hot day.