I found myself looking into a pair of penetrating dark eyes.

Here's a beautiful little account, by Mike Burke, of an encounter with a Barred Owl.

Like a camouflaged soldier at attention, the big bird stood unmoving and nearly unseen in the bare oak. I took a step closer, and its head rotated slightly. I found myself looking into a pair of penetrating dark eyes. It hesitated a moment, then noiselessly alit. 

Check out the rest of the story in the Chesapeake Bay Journal.