It is Friday again and not too far from the glorious weekend. Today we have two good news stories involving animals. They are not monumental but will hopefully bring a smile.
The first is about a lucky photo and a plucky squirrel. Let’s look at the photo first.
Photo courtesy of SWNS
This squirrel is showing his bodybuilding pose. The photo was snapped by David Roberts of Glasgow, Scotland. He just happened to have a camera when the squirrel nonchalantly hopped onto his windowsill and struck the pose. The photo has since gone viral for a good reason. There is no way to look at it and continue to frown, which is excellent news.
Photo courtesy of Dr. Robert Williams
Our second story is about a photo of a Shelley’s eagle owl in the wilds of Ghana. It is the first time one had been seen since the 1870s—and the first time ever a clear photograph of one of the world’s largest owls. Dr. Joseph Tobias and Dr. Robert Williams were stunned to see the giant bird fly over their heads. It came to roost in a tree, and Dr. Williams was able to get the clear shot. It is estimated that there are between 1700 and 7000 birds, but an exact number is impossible since the owl is so elusive. At least we know it is not extinct, which is excellent news.
I hope you all have a super weekend and today’s JohnKu talks about learning new things.
Discovery by John W. Howell © 2021
Isn’t it great when,
Something new is discovered . . .
Causing you to smile.
Fiction Favorites 
Arnold has nothing on that squirrel. And here’s to the owls, they rock.
Have a great Friday Boss
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Thank you, Marc. Have a great one too. 😁
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Gracias Sheriff
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😊
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Thank God for the natural world around us. A welcome respite to be sure. Happy Friday, John!
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I agree, Lori. 😁 Thank you.
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The photo of the squirrel is hilarious! Happy Friday, John!
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Thank you, Jill. Have a super Friday too.
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Thank you for bringing both stories, John. You brought a smile to my face this morning.
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Glad to hear, GP. Thanks for letting me know.😁
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Put any squirrel in front of me and I’ll smile. But this one? That brought real chuckles.
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To me as well. Thanks, Linda.
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I love owls! Had never heard of an Eagle Owl. It’s beautiful. And that squirrel…what a striking pose.
Have a wonderful weekend, John.
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I thik Twiggy would think twice about chasing this one. Thank you, Joan.
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I’ll bet she would!
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Hahaha.
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Wonderful, John. When I was working in CA, several of us surveyed an abandoned building for future classes. To our surprise, it had dozens of barn owls that claimed it as home. Massive and beautiful, they left an indelible memory — which you’ve brought to life today. 😊
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A super story, Gwen. I’m glad you could revisit that time. 😁
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The answer posed by your JohnKu is yes–and thank you!
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I agree, Liz. Thank you for the answer. 😁
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You’re welcome, John.
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😊
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Macho macho squirrel. There’s nothing like a macho squirrel. Now that’s one big owl ending is a haiku delivering a smile. Have a good weekend.
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Thanks, Frank. Have a good weekend as well.
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Why do I imagine that squirrel singing the Gaston song from Beauty & the Beast?
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Hahaha. I think you are right, Charles.
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That definitely made me smile! We share the world with such incredible characters and not all of them are on the screen.
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So true, Pamela. Thank you.
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Nature is such a wonderment. Happy Friday, John.
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Thank you, Tim. It is.
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That squirrel must spend hours in the gym – and he’s proud of it. That owl pic is amazing! Have a great weekend, John!
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Thank you, Teri. 😁
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Uplifting stories have a way of setting my day on the proper course. Thanks, John.
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I’m glad, Maggie. Thank you.
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I just love your refreshing Friyay posts, John!
As soon as I saw the squirrel photo I thought he looked like a bodybuilder. That is too funny!
And I love owls. What a fantastic shot of a gorgeous creature!
Have an awesome weekend! 🙂
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Have an awesome weekend as well, Mae. Good luck on NaMo. (I almost wrote NoMo)
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LOL! 😀
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😁
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It’s always good to have a reason to smile.
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It is. Thanks, Dan
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I really hope the homeowners have begun calling the squirrel Arnold. And that’s great about the owl. Thanks for the smiles, John. Happy weekend.
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Thanks for letting me know you liked it, Staci.
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Good news accepted. Now to stay away from the bad news at least for the weekend. Thanks John.
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We should stay away from bad news for sure. Thanks, John
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Lol! Love the macho squirrel. I immediately thought of Twiggy and a face-off. 🙂 The owl is most interesting. Thanks for all the good news, John! Love it! Keep it coming!
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Thank you, Jan. 😁
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Heartening about the owl, for sure…
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Yes it is. Thanks, Willow.
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I had a gray squirrel strike the very same pose in my driveway this week. It made me laugh so I rewarded him with some walnuts. Beautiful eagle owl, so glad he isn’t extinct. Thanks for the good news, John and happy Friday !
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Thank you, Denise. I’m glad they are not extinct too. 😊
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Great stories and photos, John — thanks for helping me to smile today! So much gray weather, so much bad news — we ALL could use an “excuse” for smiling.
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I’m glad you got a smile out of this Debbie. 😁
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Yes! to your JohnKu. What would Twiggy do if that squirrel showed up at your window and she saw it? TGIF to you!
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I think Twiggy would think twice about running after it.
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Have a good weekend , Jo
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Thanks for sharing these photos, John! Indeed, they brought a smile to my face 🙂
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Excellent. Thanks, Marie
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Good feelings from both of these stories. I do like that squirrel. Definitely just back from the gym!
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Thanks, Barbara
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Wonderful words and message, John, and both photos are amazing in their own right.
Happy Friday!
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Thank you, Lauren 😁
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My dad was involved in the recovery of an endangered species—formerly called the Aleutian Canada Goose. Now, they’re called the Cackling Goose. They’re a subspecies of the much more familiar Canada Goose. There were an estimated 800 left in the 1970s to about 200,000 today.
The first photo is hilarious. A squirrel on steroids.
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A terrific legacy. Pete. Thanks for sharing.
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Reblogged this on OPENED HERE >> https:/BOOKS.ESLARN-NET.DE.
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The only thing missing was that the squirrel was wearing a skirt and wanted to play the bagpipes. Real Scottish confidence. The picture should be sent to the Queen. 😉 xx Michael
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Hahaha. I could see a kilt on him too.
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Oh yes, its called “kilt”. Excuse this cultural disbehavior. 😉 xx Michael
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Hahaha
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Yes, it is, and I smile.
The squirrel’s name is Arnold.
I think the Owl calls himself The Rock.
The JohnKu stands strongly on its own.
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Well, that definitely makes me smile!
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Thank you, Jennie. 😊
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You’re welcome, John.
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I don’t even know how this post skipped my attention. I am blaming my gmail for hiding it. I am so glad I did find it again.
That pose is fantabulous! What a great shot!
And that owl! Whoa. It is a beautiful thing to find out a species is still hanging around despite its elusiveness.
Excellent JohnKu and apologies for my tardiness 😉
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It was gmail’s fault entirely, Dale. 😁
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Absolutely. So glad you understand 🙂
(As you know, I do not use the Reader so…)
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I knew that.
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😉
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Wow,
We thank the Almighty for the discovery. Have a great weekend as well.
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😁
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Weldone Sir
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Thank you.
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