Yeah!!! The bird that make my day!

Dick on ArubaDick on Aruba Registered Users Posts: 3,484 Major grins
edited September 26, 2006 in Wildlife
Maybe this is not so special for a lot of you but for me it is: the owl. About 30 pairs of Burrowing Owls breeding on Aruba
and I was lucky to snap one. I was looking for this a long time already and finally there (s)he was.

It was windy and I had to handheld. VR technology did make it all possible.

 [Click image to enlarge to 1280 x 857]

Picture # 1

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Picture # 2

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Picture # 3

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Picture # 4
Yes, his claws are missing but a keeper for me.

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Dick.
"Nothing sharpens sight like envy."
Thomas Fuller.

SmugMug account.
Website.

Comments

  • traunerktraunerk Registered Users Posts: 513 Major grins
    edited September 24, 2006
    Congratulations, Dick...
    I know how hard is is to find owls anywhere. clap.gifAnd i know the thrill when you find one - wings.gif great shots - I'm sure you'll be back for more...

    Regards...Keith
    Beam me outta here!:winkKT
  • TomaSTomaS Registered Users Posts: 314 Major grins
    edited September 24, 2006
    Whoot! Beautiful bird. I especially like tha last one - how it is composed with the similar colored tree in the background. The first is very good too.

    Congrats on getting such great shots of a rare critter.
    Tomas
    TomsProPhoto
  • douglasdouglas Registered Users Posts: 696 Major grins
    edited September 24, 2006
    Great find on a very elusive raptor, well done!
    Best regards,
    douglas
  • Ric GrupeRic Grupe Registered Users Posts: 9,522 Major grins
    edited September 24, 2006
    Nice find, Dick. thumb.gifclap.gif

    Are you like me?....and have come to hate those little branches! I swear sometimes I'd like to have a chainsaw in my kit.mwink.gif
  • jwearjwear Registered Users Posts: 8,013 Major grins
    edited September 24, 2006
    know what you meen saw a great horned today myself --nice work and a great find
    Jeff W

    “PHOTOGRAPHY IS THE ‘JAZZ’ FOR THE EYES…”

    http://jwear.smugmug.com/
  • raptorcaptorraptorcaptor Registered Users Posts: 3,968 Major grins
    edited September 24, 2006
    Good shots Dick! clap.gif We used to have burrowing owls in orange county, but they are pretty much down to three pairs, and they live on a military base in seal beach.
    Glenn

    My website | NANPA Member
  • Dick on ArubaDick on Aruba Registered Users Posts: 3,484 Major grins
    edited September 25, 2006
    Thanks for looking and the comments guys thumb.gif
    "Nothing sharpens sight like envy."
    Thomas Fuller.

    SmugMug account.
    Website.
  • dbaker1221dbaker1221 Registered Users Posts: 4,482 Major grins
    edited September 25, 2006
    great job Dick!thumb.gif
    **If I keep shooting, I'm bound to hit something**
    Dave
  • askme2flashuaskme2flashu Registered Users Posts: 33 Big grins
    edited September 25, 2006
    Hey Dick,

    Just thought you might like to know, in Cape Coral, FL they live in peoples fornt lawns. They dig holes near their mailboxes and sit on top of the boxes. You can see them everywhere.

    Great pictures. The rare ones are a much better find.

    -M-
    Chance favors the prepared mind.
    ___________________________
    Gear:
    Nikon D-200 :thumb
    Sigma 18-200mm F3.5-6.3 DC
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    Kenko Extension Tube Set DG
  • Dick on ArubaDick on Aruba Registered Users Posts: 3,484 Major grins
    edited September 25, 2006
    dbaker1221 wrote:
    great job Dick!thumb.gif

    Thanks.
    "Nothing sharpens sight like envy."
    Thomas Fuller.

    SmugMug account.
    Website.
  • Dick on ArubaDick on Aruba Registered Users Posts: 3,484 Major grins
    edited September 25, 2006
    askme2flashu wrote:
    ...Just thought you might like to know, in Cape Coral, FL they live in peoples fornt lawns. They dig holes near their mailboxes and sit on top of the boxes. You can see them everywhere.

    Great pictures. The rare ones are a much better find.

    -M-

    Thanks.

    For me this is rare enough. On Aruba they are very hard to find. Personally I still keep on photographing the most common birds just because I love birds and photography. We always looking for that "perfect shot" mwink.gif
    "Nothing sharpens sight like envy."
    Thomas Fuller.

    SmugMug account.
    Website.
  • Dennis KaczorDennis Kaczor Registered Users Posts: 2,413 Major grins
    edited September 25, 2006
    Hi Dick, hey I'm happy that this bird made your day, it would make mine too.

    Nice series of the owl that you manage to capture here thanks for sharing.
    Regards - Dennis

    Dennis Kaczor Photography
  • Dick on ArubaDick on Aruba Registered Users Posts: 3,484 Major grins
    edited September 25, 2006
    Dennis Kaczor wrote:
    Hi Dick, hey I'm happy that this bird made your day, it would make mine too.

    Nice series of the owl that you manage to capture here thanks for sharing.

    Thanks Dennis.
    "Nothing sharpens sight like envy."
    Thomas Fuller.

    SmugMug account.
    Website.
  • Awais YaqubAwais Yaqub Registered Users Posts: 10,572 Major grins
    edited September 25, 2006
    Wonderful set buddy clap.gif
    Thine is the beauty of light; mine is the song of fire. Thy beauty exalts the heart; my song inspires the soul. Allama Iqbal

    My Gallery
  • DeeDee Registered Users Posts: 2,981 Major grins
    edited September 25, 2006
    Where are your photos?
    askme2flashu wrote:
    Hey Dick,

    Just thought you might like to know, in Cape Coral, FL they live in peoples fornt lawns. They dig holes near their mailboxes and sit on top of the boxes. You can see them everywhere.

    Great pictures. The rare ones are a much better find.

    -M-

    Would love to see some of the owls on top of mailboxes, etc.
    http://www.deegolden.smugmug.com
    http://www.twitter.com/deegolden
  • DeeDee Registered Users Posts: 2,981 Major grins
    edited September 25, 2006
    In trees?
    Neat.... I'd be jumping up and down if I got photos of them too!

    I've heard tell of some owls in Fremont, and I actually got to see some in Mountain View, CA -- but my 200mm was not sufficient to get really nice photos. There were signs telling people to stay on the path and to not disturb the owls. I'd need a 600mm at least.

    The thrill for me was just being able to see the borrowing owls. There were 4 or 5 in one "hill" and it's just so funny to watch them pop their heads in and out of the holes.

    My daughter actually saw one (got a photo) at the Nasa Ames site sitting on a fence post on the fence that runs along the side of the access road! This is only yards away from a very busy highway!
    http://www.deegolden.smugmug.com
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  • Dick on ArubaDick on Aruba Registered Users Posts: 3,484 Major grins
    edited September 25, 2006
    Dee wrote:
    Neat.... I'd be jumping up and down if I got photos of them too!...
    ...The thrill for me was just being able to see the borrowing owls. There were 4 or 5 in one "hill" and it's just so funny to watch them pop their heads in and out of the holes....

    Thanks Dee.

    Owls are just beautiful birds. It's very rewarding to snap a decent shot from it. I know the have holes in the ground and I know where the photographed owl is hanging out. Comming weekend I'll go back to see if I can snap him on the ground.
    "Nothing sharpens sight like envy."
    Thomas Fuller.

    SmugMug account.
    Website.
  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited September 26, 2006
    Excellent shots Dick. So far I've been only to capture an owl once so I would be excited too. thumb.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!"
  • Dick on ArubaDick on Aruba Registered Users Posts: 3,484 Major grins
    edited September 26, 2006
    Harryb wrote:
    Excellent shots Dick. So far I've been only to capture an owl once so I would be excited too. thumb.gif

    Thanks Harry.

    I know now where he's hanging out so maybe I can try to make a ground shot of him.
    "Nothing sharpens sight like envy."
    Thomas Fuller.

    SmugMug account.
    Website.
  • LCDLCD Registered Users Posts: 494 Major grins
    edited September 26, 2006
    I think it's very special! You got some nice poses there. I'd be thrilled.
  • Dick on ArubaDick on Aruba Registered Users Posts: 3,484 Major grins
    edited September 26, 2006
    LCD wrote:
    I think it's very special! You got some nice poses there. I'd be thrilled.

    Thanks!
    "Nothing sharpens sight like envy."
    Thomas Fuller.

    SmugMug account.
    Website.
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