Barred Owl, Cooper's Hawk(?), and good-fail shots.

I came upon an owl this morning at Jericho Park, and was elated. No other word for it. Later, a man told me it was a Barred Owl. I've looked in my book and think he was correct. It's my very first sighting ever!

The walk began with little birds singing all around me, but it seemed, the trees were empty. I just couldn't locate the source of the songs. I was happy, finally, to spot this little one in the tall grasses, even though I couldn't identify it.
Black Jack and I checked out the rabbit bushes, and walked the trails at the back of the park for quite some time, and finally took the wooded trail to 4th Avenue, heading homeward. A very persistent and loud bird call, one that I hadn't noticed before, slowed us down. (I'm convinced Black Jack enjoys tiptoeing along with me, when I go into hunt mode.) I looked up, and up, and up, until my neck ached. The call came every few seconds, and each time, I felt sure I would see the bird. Eventually, we were off the path, stepping into a mess of thickets and roots and sometimes grasses, still trying to locate the source of the call. Finally, I stepped on a fallen branch, and the loud crack caused the bird to fly to a tree along the path. I was never able to get a clear photograph, but it was in my effort to get its picture, that I came across the owl. Thank you to that bird! I've looked in my book, and have a feeling it may be a Cooper's Hawk. It never came out of the shadows, and I had to lighten this shot to post it, but could it be that I've identified it correctly? If so, then there were two firsts in one day.
A failed photograph, but the only one that shows its eye, and I count it as a good-fail shot.
Another failed shot. I was trying to get the yellow flowers, but instead, got a fun color mix.
I missed the bird's head in this one, but love the veins in the leaf at the centre.
This tree is on the North-West corner of Alma Street and 4th Avenue. It's absolutely beautiful. I'm going to try and identify it when I get a chance. In the meantime, it will become another one of my little projects to try and do its beauty justice.
Thanksgiving Weekend and I am thankful.