I took a field trip today to the Umlauf Sculpture Garden Museum, down by Zilker Park. Admission is free this summer, through the end of August, thanks to donations from Amplify Austin. You may want to check it out as well. Hours are Tue-Fri 10am-4pm, and Sat & Sun noon-4pm.
I’ve been there before, but it has been over 15 years. It was a lovely morning, and I headed out before it got too hot. Charles Umlauf was born in 1910, died in 1994, and was a prolific sculptor. His first commissioned work was at age 12! The sculpture garden lies on land between his former home and Barton Springs, and displays 50+ of his works scattered throughout lovely, wooded grounds.
My favorite:
Ok, so, now for the best part… as I was walking through the grounds I noticed a large dark shape sitting on a branch of a tree right over the trail I just walked on. I realized it was a bird. A big one. It was just sitting there, watching me, as I doubled back to try to get a picture. It was an unexpected sight, and I love the shot. After I got home I looked online to identify the bird… I believe it to be a barred owl.
Sheila365 
Wow! Are you sure it is not a sculpture?
Really awesome to look an owl in the eyes!
It was. His eyes were amazing.
I was there this summer and as I was sitting on a bench by one of the bridges this very same owl actually swooped down and landed right next to me!!! I saw its wing span out of the corner of my eyes and when I turned it took me a second to realize what it was! It looked me right in the eyes for some time and it was like nothing I have ever experienced. My mother was able to get another amazing shot of it and show it to the people at the desk whom we then had a lob conversation with about how they had no idea they had an owl. When we arrived home we sent them the picture and they responded I could name it. I went with Oberon after the Shakespearean- (get it, bard owl) King of the fairies (I wasn’t sure if it was a male or female so it was that or Tatania.) Anyway, glad to see you got such a great pic of him!! 😀
Very cool! Thanks for sharing your experience. And I love the name.