I recall walking in the north woods of Wisconsin one evening by myself. Quiet - snow all around. I saw this huge owl (brown) fly through the dense tree limbs (deciduous - no leaves). It was amazing - no sound. No swish from the wings, no rattling of the branches it was flying through - like a ghost. Makes sense seeing as it doesn’t eat otherwise - but it was amazing to be that close to it in flight and no sound for such a huge bird.
There was a place in southern Vermont, by the faamily cabin, where the Great-Horned Owls roosted in the pine trees.We were hiking through the area, trying to get home before dark, not realizing that we weren’t alone in the forest As we passed through the grove, maybe a dozen masssive owls came out of the trees with a silent *WHOOSH* sound of their powerful wings. Probably beginning their nightly hunt sooner than they planned. It was a awe inspiring moment. Our hearts stopped. We ducked down to our knees.