A Barred Owl was seen resting on the seal sculpture east of Alki Bathhouse, turning an ordinary walk along Alki Beach into a brief wildlife sighting above the shoreline.

The owl stayed in place long enough to be clearly seen perched on top of the sculpture, an unusual image against one of Seattle's busiest beach stretches.

Barred Owls are part of the region's bird life and tend to be recognized more by sound than by sight. Their calls can carry through wooded areas after dark while the birds themselves remain hidden.

That made the Alki sighting stand out: a woodland raptor in plain view beside the promenade, public art, and the open water.

It was a small reminder that along Seattle's shoreline, wildlife still appears in the middle of an otherwise ordinary walk.

Originally reported by West Seattle Blog.