Great Horned Owl

iceman17iceman17 Registered Users Posts: 246 Major grins
edited August 25, 2005 in Wildlife
I was looking for G B Herons when I spotted 2 G H Owls instead,well not being one to pass up an oppertunity like this I started snapping away.This is what I got.All shots using the Sigma 50-500mm at 500mm.

33174266-M.jpg


Whats down there.
33174249-M.jpg


Looking up at the other owl.
33174257-M.jpg


The second owl.
33174260-M.jpg

Back to sleep.
33174269-M.jpg
I took a picture once
but they made me give it back.

Comments

  • Osprey WhispererOsprey Whisperer Registered Users Posts: 3,803 Major grins
    edited August 25, 2005
    Nice set of owl shots. Like the profile one...the best. Next time tell that silly owl to keep his eyes open and say "cheese". thumb.gif


    BMP
    Mike McCarthy

    "Osprey Whisperer"

    OspreyWhisperer.com
  • bfjrbfjr Registered Users Posts: 10,980 Major grins
    edited August 25, 2005
    See I told you !! thumb.gif
    Just look and you'll find your birds
    Well done clap.gif
    I commit all kinds of violations if I could find an Owl in the Wild :D
    Benjamin
    My Galleries
    Flicker
    G+
  • Osprey WhispererOsprey Whisperer Registered Users Posts: 3,803 Major grins
    edited August 25, 2005
    ** notifies game warden and local law enforcement authorities to be on the look out for an old machine gun toatin' wild man breaking various laws and ordinances **

    :flash
    Mike McCarthy

    "Osprey Whisperer"

    OspreyWhisperer.com
  • iceman17iceman17 Registered Users Posts: 246 Major grins
    edited August 25, 2005
    Thanks Mike,This was a nice suprise finding these two.Ive shot Northenhawk Owls and Great Grey Owls but this is my first Great Horned Owl :D .I wish I could have gotten closer,but that was not possible.


    Bird Man Photographer wrote:
    Nice set of owl shots. Like the profile one...the best. Next time tell that silly owl to keep his eyes open and say "cheese". thumb.gif



    BMP
    I took a picture once
    but they made me give it back.
  • iceman17iceman17 Registered Users Posts: 246 Major grins
    edited August 25, 2005
    This is my third type of owl ive shot in the wild.I see more of them in the winter out this way,mainly Great greys and Northernhawk owls.Ive still got to get me that G B Heron though.
    bfjr wrote:
    See I told you !! thumb.gif
    Just look and you'll find your birds
    Well done clap.gif
    I commit all kinds of violations if I could find an Owl in the Wild :D
    I took a picture once
    but they made me give it back.
  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited August 25, 2005
    Good set Mike. I would rather catch an owl over a heron any days.
    Harry
    http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
    How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
  • Steve CaviglianoSteve Cavigliano Super Moderators Posts: 3,599 moderator
    edited August 25, 2005
    Mike,

    Really nice shots all thumb.gifthumb.gif

    I'm with Harry (as usual rolleyes1.gif ) gimme a Horned Owl over an Egret or a Heron anyday clap.gif I'd even take one of those 8 inch burrowing owls.....Laughing.gif


    Not being familiar with owls, do they fly away from you if you approach too close, even in daylight?

    Nice work and thanks for sharing,
    Steve
    SmugMug Support Hero
  • ginger_55ginger_55 Registered Users Posts: 8,416 Major grins
    edited August 25, 2005
    Wonderful owl shots, wonderful

    ginger
    After all is said and done, it is the sweet tea.
  • iceman17iceman17 Registered Users Posts: 246 Major grins
    edited August 25, 2005
    Thanks for your comments Steve.Im sure I could have walked up closer to these two however there was a small marsh about 40 yards long between the owls and me.These two didn't mind me being there and even closed their eyes several times while I was shooting them.I have walked right up to trees and poles containing Northern hawk owls and Great Grey Owls with no problem of them flying away.Here are some examples....Mike

    Great Grey Owl
    32431238-M.jpg

    Northern Hawk Owl
    32303976-M.jpg


    32293528-M.jpg
    Steve Cavigliano wrote:
    Mike,

    Really nice shots all thumb.gifthumb.gif

    I'm with Harry (as usual rolleyes1.gif ) gimme a Horned Owl over an Egret or a Heron anyday clap.gif I'd even take one of those 8 inch burrowing owls.....Laughing.gif


    Not being familiar with owls, do they fly away from you if you approach too close, even in daylight?

    Nice work and thanks for sharing,
    Steve
    I took a picture once
    but they made me give it back.
  • iceman17iceman17 Registered Users Posts: 246 Major grins
    edited August 25, 2005
    Well thank you very much Ginger,it's good to meet you...Mike
    ginger_55 wrote:
    Wonderful owl shots, wonderful

    ginger
    I took a picture once
    but they made me give it back.
  • Steve CaviglianoSteve Cavigliano Super Moderators Posts: 3,599 moderator
    edited August 25, 2005
    iceman17 wrote:
    Thanks for your comments Steve.Im sure I could have walked up closer to these two however there was a small marsh about 40 yards long between the owls and me.These two didn't mind me being there and even closed their eyes several times while I was shooting them.I have walked right up to trees and poles containing Northern hawk owls and Great Grey Owls with no problem of them flying away.Here are some examples....Mike

    Great Grey Owl


    Northern Hawk Owl
    32303976-M.jpg


    32293528-M.jpg
    Mike,
    These 2 are excellent thumb.gifthumb.gif I liked the first one too, but there's just too much "stuff" in front of Mr Owl rolleyes1.gif Don't ya hate it when all those darn bare branches get in the way? eek7.gif

    To me owls are right up there with eagles and hawks as far as desireable shooting subjects iloveyou.gif You are blessed to live in an area with so many different types of owls.

    For your next assignment, I'd like to see a GHO flying right towards you around dusk......Laughing.gif J/K although that would be an awesome shot indeed clap.gif and oh-so-tough with the Bigma ne_nau.gif

    Steve
    SmugMug Support Hero
  • Ann McRaeAnn McRae Registered Users Posts: 4,584 Major grins
    edited August 25, 2005
    Steve Cavigliano wrote:
    Mike,

    For your next assignment, I'd like to see a GHO flying right towards you around dusk......Laughing.gif J/K although that would be an awesome shot indeed clap.gif and oh-so-tough with the Bigma ne_nau.gif

    Steve
    Steve - have you heard that GHO's can remove scalps with their talons????
    Really!

    ann

    My Galleries     My Photography BLOG
    Ramblings About Me
  • Ann McRaeAnn McRae Registered Users Posts: 4,584 Major grins
    edited August 25, 2005
    Hi Iceman. Nice shots! I keep trying to find owls, but haven't seen one in a couple of years...well, there was this night last winter when we got swooped on by something while in the hot tub - not really sure what it was - far too cold out for a bat so I'm guessing owl.


    Anyway, we're neighbors! We are almost getting enough dgrinners to have a northern Alberta shootout!!!!


    ann

    My Galleries     My Photography BLOG
    Ramblings About Me
  • Steve CaviglianoSteve Cavigliano Super Moderators Posts: 3,599 moderator
    edited August 25, 2005
    Ann McRae wrote:
    Steve - have you heard that GHO's can remove scalps with their talons????
    Really!

    ann
    :yikes :eek1 As a male with a high scalp to hair ratio, I hereby retract my suggestion.....lol

    Although it just might be worth it to get the pic I have in my minds eye :lol

    Steve
    SmugMug Support Hero
  • Osprey WhispererOsprey Whisperer Registered Users Posts: 3,803 Major grins
    edited August 25, 2005
    There is this one owl that is always perched on the neighbors boat dock. I can pretty much shoot him any time I want. I believe it's a rare roto-molded polymer owl ?? Anyone ever see these in your neck of the woods? :D


    47589715.jpg

    ** crossing fingers & toes to run into some real "birds of prey" soon. thumb.gif

    BMP
    Mike McCarthy

    "Osprey Whisperer"

    OspreyWhisperer.com
  • iceman17iceman17 Registered Users Posts: 246 Major grins
    edited August 25, 2005
    Hi Ann,it's good to see a fellow Albertan in here.It would be great to get together with other shooters from the forum.I havent had any owls swoop down at me (yet) but I can only imagine what would happen if one made contact with my head ...ouch.Thanks for the reply and it's good to meet you...Mike
    Ann McRae wrote:
    Hi Iceman. Nice shots! I keep trying to find owls, but haven't seen one in a couple of years...well, there was this night last winter when we got swooped on by something while in the hot tub - not really sure what it was - far too cold out for a bat so I'm guessing owl.


    Anyway, we're neighbors! We are almost getting enough dgrinners to have a northern Alberta shootout!!!!


    ann
    I took a picture once
    but they made me give it back.
  • iceman17iceman17 Registered Users Posts: 246 Major grins
    edited August 25, 2005
    Now thats just to funnyrolleyes1.gifthumb.gif
    Bird Man Photographer wrote:
    There is this one owl that is always perched on the neighbors boat dock. I can pretty much shoot him any time I want. I believe it's a rare roto-molded polymer owl ?? Anyone ever see these in your neck of the woods? :D


    47589715.jpg

    ** crossing fingers & toes to run into some real "birds of prey" soon. thumb.gif

    BMP
    I took a picture once
    but they made me give it back.
Sign In or Register to comment.