Three small owls

BigAlBigAl Registered Users Posts: 2,294 Major grins
edited December 29, 2010 in Wildlife
Scops Owl
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Pearlspotted Owl
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Barred Owl
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All less than 15cm.
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Comments

  • LindiweLindiwe Registered Users Posts: 606 Major grins
    edited December 3, 2010
    I am soooo very envious. Love owls. I've yet to see one when I've been anywhere near a camera. (Not counting zoos)

    Lovely images!
    thumb.gif
  • Dennis KaczorDennis Kaczor Registered Users Posts: 2,413 Major grins
    edited December 3, 2010
    Nice captures, and boy are these tiny little owls.
    Regards - Dennis

    Dennis Kaczor Photography
  • PGMPGM Registered Users Posts: 2,007 Major grins
    edited December 3, 2010
    These are beautiful! I've never seen either of the first two, though the Barred Owl is the most common in Louisiana where we are. How did you capture all 3? Like Lindiwe, I find them hard to photograph! Best, Pam
  • Ric GrupeRic Grupe Registered Users Posts: 9,522 Major grins
    edited December 4, 2010
    Wow...very cool , Al! thumb.gif

    That first one looks like a piece of Birch bark.
  • jackiejayjackiejay Registered Users Posts: 714 Major grins
    edited December 6, 2010
    They are very beautiful. Owls are so neat thanks for sharing youre pictures. I really enjoy them.
  • BigAlBigAl Registered Users Posts: 2,294 Major grins
    edited December 7, 2010
    Lindiwe wrote: »
    I am soooo very envious. Love owls. I've yet to see one when I've been anywhere near a camera. (Not counting zoos)

    Lovely images!
    thumb.gif

    Thanks Lindiwe! It just takes a bit of practice to spot them. Trying to find these guys is more of a mission:

    272181177_yriLG-M.jpg
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  • LindiweLindiwe Registered Users Posts: 606 Major grins
    edited December 8, 2010
    How did you manage to not step on that bird? And... what kind of bird is it?
    It reminds me of a Tawny Frogmouth. Those look almost more like tree branches than an actual tree branch does. I've a feeling I've walked right past any number of them....
  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited December 8, 2010
    A very good and very interesting set Al. clap.gif
    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!"
  • BigAlBigAl Registered Users Posts: 2,294 Major grins
    edited December 9, 2010
    Dennis Kaczor wrote: »
    Nice captures, and boy are these tiny little owls.

    Thanks Dennis. They are small, but don't underestimate them, especially the Pearlspotted Owl: they are capable of taking out a bird the size of a turtle dove!
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  • BigAlBigAl Registered Users Posts: 2,294 Major grins
    edited December 11, 2010
    PGM wrote: »
    These are beautiful! I've never seen either of the first two, though the Barred Owl is the most common in Louisiana where we are. How did you capture all 3? Like Lindiwe, I find them hard to photograph! Best, Pam

    Thanks Pam. Just had a look at your Barred Owl and he's quite a big chap (17" according to my "Birds of North America") compared to our little guy :) The trick to capturing them is finding them :D - the Pearlspot and Barred Owls are active in the early morning so you can often spot them flying around being chased by other birds. The Scops Owl was pure luck, I happened to park my pickup directly under where he was roosting, and he happened to open his eyes as I started the engine to leave and I spotted him. Here eyes open, but tail chopped off:
    575155425_dWAyt-M.jpg
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  • BigAlBigAl Registered Users Posts: 2,294 Major grins
    edited December 11, 2010
    Ric Grupe wrote: »
    Wow...very cool , Al! thumb.gif

    That first one looks like a piece of Birch bark.

    Thanks Ric! Normally, you find the Scops in trees with grayish, heavily textured bark, which then renders them virtually invisible!
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  • Osprey WhispererOsprey Whisperer Registered Users Posts: 3,803 Major grins
    edited December 11, 2010
    It's always great to see the whooooooties posted. Interesting little characters owls are. Thanks for sharing.
    Mike McCarthy

    "Osprey Whisperer"

    OspreyWhisperer.com
  • PGMPGM Registered Users Posts: 2,007 Major grins
    edited December 11, 2010
    BigAl wrote: »
    Thanks Dennis. They are small, but don't underestimate them, especially the Pearlspotted Owl: they are capable of taking out a bird the size of a turtle dove!

    Thanks, Al. I'm going to redouble my efforts to look for them in the early morning. We often hear them hooting close to our bedroom at night. Yours are amazing shots! Best, Pam
  • BigAlBigAl Registered Users Posts: 2,294 Major grins
    edited December 12, 2010
    jackiejay wrote: »
    They are very beautiful. Owls are so neat thanks for sharing youre pictures. I really enjoy them.

    Thanks Jackie!
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  • BigAlBigAl Registered Users Posts: 2,294 Major grins
    edited December 12, 2010
    Lindiwe wrote: »
    How did you manage to not step on that bird? And... what kind of bird is it?
    It reminds me of a Tawny Frogmouth. Those look almost more like tree branches than an actual tree branch does. I've a feeling I've walked right past any number of them....

    It's a Fierynecked Nightjar. Nightjars and frogmouths are supposed to be related somewhere along the evolutionary tree. I spotted this guy out the corner of my eye through a really tiny gap in the branches. He really blends in well with the stones, bark and other bits of composting stuff around him.
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  • korandokekorandoke Registered Users Posts: 517 Major grins
    edited December 12, 2010
    very nice

    kind regards,
    Korandoke
    Best regards,
    Korandoke
  • BigAlBigAl Registered Users Posts: 2,294 Major grins
    edited December 15, 2010
    Harryb wrote: »
    A very good and very interesting set Al. clap.gif

    Thanks for kind words Harry!
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  • BigAlBigAl Registered Users Posts: 2,294 Major grins
    edited December 15, 2010
    Osprey Whisperer wrote: »
    It's always great to see the whooooooties posted. Interesting little characters owls are. Thanks for sharing.

    Thanks Mike!
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  • dlplumerdlplumer Registered Users Posts: 8,081 Major grins
    edited December 15, 2010
    Cool captures, Al. I'm still looking for my first owl in the wild.
    Dan
    http://danielplumer.com/
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  • deb22deb22 Registered Users Posts: 428 Major grins
    edited December 15, 2010
    That pearl spotted owl is such a cutie. looks like it may be the size of our saw whet's. Thanks for showing us these beautiful birds.
    COUNTRY ROADS ARE NATURES HIGHWAY. http://dafontainewildlife.com
  • BigAlBigAl Registered Users Posts: 2,294 Major grins
    edited December 16, 2010
    PGM wrote: »
    Thanks, Al. I'm going to redouble my efforts to look for them in the early morning. We often hear them hooting close to our bedroom at night. Yours are amazing shots! Best, Pam

    Thanks again Pam!
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  • BigAlBigAl Registered Users Posts: 2,294 Major grins
    edited December 19, 2010
    korandoke wrote: »
    very nice

    kind regards,
    Korandoke

    Thanks!
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  • BigAlBigAl Registered Users Posts: 2,294 Major grins
    edited December 20, 2010
    dlplumer wrote: »
    Cool captures, Al. I'm still looking for my first owl in the wild.


    Thanks Dan!. What helps me in finding them is having been a serious birdwatcher.
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  • BigAlBigAl Registered Users Posts: 2,294 Major grins
    edited December 20, 2010
    deb22 wrote: »
    That pearl spotted owl is such a cutie. looks like it may be the size of our saw whet's. Thanks for showing us these beautiful birds.

    Thanks Deb. Your saw whets look a bit bigger than these. From my book, your Northern Pygmy Owl looks a lot like the pearl spot.
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  • grimacegrimace Registered Users Posts: 1,537 Major grins
    edited December 20, 2010
    Great looking set Al. I really like the 2nd image.
    -Adam
    www.adamstravelphotography.com

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  • BigAlBigAl Registered Users Posts: 2,294 Major grins
    edited December 23, 2010
    grimace wrote: »
    Great looking set Al. I really like the 2nd image.

    Thanks Adam! The Pearlspotted Owl is a cutie!
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  • MaestroMaestro Registered Users Posts: 5,395 Major grins
    edited December 25, 2010
    Yes, I am very envious too! I love owls but do not get many opportunities with them. These are great!
    Stephen
    www.capture-the-pixel.com

  • jbr13jbr13 Registered Users Posts: 251 Major grins
    edited December 26, 2010
    Great captures. I would love to find some owls to give it a try! They are one of my favorites to see on the forum. Thanks for sharing.

    Jason
    Jason

    http://jbr.smugmug.com/

    "When you were born, you cried and the world rejoiced... Live your life so that when you die, the world cries and you rejoice"
  • BigAlBigAl Registered Users Posts: 2,294 Major grins
    edited December 29, 2010
    Maestro wrote: »
    Yes, I am very envious too! I love owls but do not get many opportunities with them. These are great!
    jbr13 wrote: »
    Great captures. I would love to find some owls to give it a try! They are one of my favorites to see on the forum. Thanks for sharing.

    Thanks Stephen & Jason! The big trick to finding owls (for me anyway) is often trying to find out what makes the little birdies upset.
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