Upon close inspection in daylight, we think this is a Barred Owl. She has been seen stalking our boys when they are on the deck at night. Shortly before the photo at left was taken, one of the squirrels in a nearby tree had obviously been traumatized while sleeping in the branches. 
Squirrels are not smart in that they make noise incessantly once they have been frightened, which, of course, allows the owl with its sharp ears to zero in on its target for a second time. The wing span of the bird, (above), passing through the trees was a good four feet in width. In daylight I half expect the owl to swoop down from a perch when the young squirrels are travelling along the cable wires, which is what this girl above is sitting on at the time the photo was taken. It is her size that suggests she is female as she is large.
At left she has been chased into a tree by the local crows, and is there for refuge. The crows were actually nipping at her tail as they chased her into the trees.
I can see here, that I am going to have to start looking at infrared cameras for night photos, as the same evening the night photos were taken, just at dusk, we had the largest local bear right below the window where I work on the computer. That close you don't turn your back!
