What a hoot!

AIRIC · Dec 28, 2004

Sorry, could not help myself. To de-stress I went for a solo hike early this morning and was rewarded with some owl shots. As a rule I always set the camera up before I head off so I can shoot asap when I stumble across a scene like this.

Don't know how I managed to get this close without being detected. The owl having it's breakfast.

One step closer and I'm spotted.

I'm always ready for the take-off but very seldom get a good image.

The landing on a safe branch

He keeps a close eye on me

A few steps closer and I can see him getting nervous.

Gone for good. I waited around but he was not coming back.

Right after this it started to snow so for the first time I used an unbrella to keep the snow off the camera as it was falling. It was awkward but it worked well. I will post some of the other bird images I took while it was snowing in another post.

Cheers,

Eric

Aoide · Dec 28, 2004

What a beautiful bird. Great captures. I especially like the next to last one with him on the branch. Thanks for sharing.

Nytmair · Dec 28, 2004

2nd to last one is great! good story too

LaFoto · Dec 28, 2004

I'm particularly fond of the "Spotted!" one. The owl has mimics in that one (which I find is a rare treat in a bird!).
Other than that, your photos are great, as usual, Airic. Once I see that "Airic" has put up new photos, I must go and take a look.
And for the time being, I'm not using my home computer, but one in a library, with a much better screen than mine, and the difference is ENORMOUS and your photos are so ENORMOUSLY better now!

If anything like that is possible...

conch · Dec 28, 2004

wow, amazing pictures!

Aga · Dec 28, 2004

Great photos!

Alison · Dec 28, 2004

Great series, it's not often you see an owl so close!

ferny · Dec 28, 2004

I'll second what Alsion said. I like the one where he is landing the best. What focal length or zoom where you using? You look very close.

JonMikal · Dec 28, 2004

great series Airic! your world sure lends to some of the best images posted!

aggiezach · Dec 28, 2004

These are awesome yo! Great series! I'm with the majority here, that second to last photo is amazing! Thanks for sharing!

Zach

cactus waltz · Dec 28, 2004

What's going on in the last picture?

railman44 · Dec 28, 2004

Very cool! Great shots!

John E. · Dec 28, 2004

That is soooo 8) . I am so amazed when I stumble across animals like an owl that I forget how to work my camera

Good pictures.

mentos_007 · Dec 28, 2004

the last one is very interesting. although it is almost all blurred but great

AIRIC · Dec 28, 2004

Thanks guys. I was using my Nikkor 70-300ED. I got within 40feet of him so that is pretty close. The last photo is the owl fleeing for good, he had enough of me. I was out early and it was cold.

On a sad note my father experienced several minor strokes over the weekend. There is no long term damage and he has setteled into my sisters place so today I needed to get out on my own and breath some fresh air so chasing the owl and other birds helped me unwind and relax. My father, and mentor, is 78 and the last time he saw a doctor was 1945!. He is doing very good and his blood pressure has come way down from where it was. He is taking it as a warning and for the first time in his life is taking a medication. I hope I'm built of the same material as he is doing very well for his age and takes more photos then me, if you can imagine.

I told him I'm not finished picking his brain about photography yet so he can't go anywhere.

Sorry, had to let it out.

Eric