Got a tip from a fellow “Owl’er”. I took the chance with the weather and took off 80 miles to find the nest, still in Central Illinois. Had a pin where to park, and a rough map of where the cavity tree was, but still took me a while to located it. Especially since I had map upside down and started off walking away from the nest. Went back to the truck and regrouped and started over in the right direction. When I finally found the hole, only 1 fuzzy white head was visible. I got 3 shots off hand held before it went back down inside the tree. Moved the truck into location where I could observe the tree for over an hour with NO activity. Decided I go to the nearest town, grabbed lunch and a bio break.
Went back to observation spot, still nothing. I reclined the trucks seat and started streaming Shelby’s college softball game. I would check the cavity every time they changed the field. Finally in the bottom of the 4th, mom was spotted in the nest cavity. I don’t know if she flew in, or if she climbed up from deeper in the cavity.
You can barely see the top of one of the two owlets trying to push it’s way up.
These were shot with the new RF600mm F4 IS with a 1.4 TC so effectively a 840mm f5.6
Loving the new lens, and I’ll be back to check on this family again. Judging by the size of the one Owlet I saw, they will start to fletching soon.
At least I finally found a brown owl (with help), just wish is was closer to home. I’ll be back in the woods looking for more local owls closer to home next week.
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Life is good and I am blessed!
I never got a decent shot of either parent as they were always on high alert and way out there.
March 8th, 2019: Was pretty sad to hear that next time I went to check on the family, that the nest was destroyed in a storm and high winds and we lost one of the two owlets. One of the photographers that is there every day stated that another photographer went into the ticket and found baby owl feathers. 
While creeping around trying to find the mom, dad and the perfect angle, I spotted this eye watching me. Never got a clear shot of mom or dad, but did score another Barred Owl nest hole. The fourth working Barred Owl cavity I know of in Texas. People have asked how I find the owls, mostly luck but I spend a lot of time creeping and observing and checking every hole for movement or eye. 
While looking for the parents, I saw the silhouette of a larger bird, using my best ninja skills, was able to get a clear photo of a Red Tail Hawk.
Two days later, March 10th headed back. Found the dad: Dalton. They named him Dalton because of the movie quote, “I always thought you would be bigger.”
The lone surviving owlet is getting bigger.
Finally able to get a halfway decent shot of mom, giving me the stink eye. I could be wrong but I think they called her Hanna.
I am pretty impressed that both parents continue to feed and care for the lone owlet without a nest. I have read that the parents will continue to feed them and help the owlets for up to 5 or 6 months. I didn’t make it down there this weekend, so I am guessing the little family will have moved on by the time I get back from a work trip.
The Launch
Batman! I usually don’t post wildlife photos where you can’t see the eyes, but I liked this wing position.
Flyover
Even though Mike and Robert know areas where the owls hang out there is never a guarantee that you will be able to find them.
How about the first Great Horned Owl?
Hope to have some launch series and flight shots edited in the next day or two. After I get caught up on Owl edits, I’ll switch over and work on some Eagles, but I have 1400 plus eagles shots to process. I might have been a little trigger happy knowing this was my one and only eagle trip of winter 2015/2016 Eagles.