Saturday's birds with a 40D.

Harv

All images shot with the 40D, 300/2.8 (with and without the 1.4xTC), Bushhawk.

Record shots of the Short-eared Owl (huge crops)





Snow Buntings









Hooded Merganser













Thanks for your patience and thanks for looking.

Maestro

The snow bunting and hooded merganser are just incredible. They have wonderful color and detail. Owls always amaze me with their eyes. Yours does not disappoint.

jonh68

Nice series!

GraphyFotoz

That Hooded is just amazing!!

LOVE this one!!

Harv

Thanks very much everyone. I really appreciate that you stopped to look and leave your comments. Your kind kind words make it all worthwhile.

dbaker1221

Hey Harv ..more great shots ...never seen a snow bunting & the close up of the maganser is sensational...how close was he?

however...It's too bad the first bunting has a piece of grass blocking part of it's beak & the 4th maganser has some water drops blocking it's bill..otherwise they'd be good shots

aw Harv just kidding.:D

Harv

dbaker1221 wrote:

Hey Harv ..more great shots ...never seen a snow bunting & the close up of the maganser is sensational...how close was he?

however...It's too bad the first bunting has a piece of grass blocking part of it's beak & the 4th maganser has some water drops blocking it's bill..otherwise they'd be good shots

aw Harv just kidding.:D

Thanks a lot, Dave. The Hoodie got as close as 20-25 feet for some of the shots. Don't really remember how close he was for that particular one.

riddim_maker

These are just awesome captures Harv
From my experience, it seemed very difficult to sneak up on the Mergansers. Did you use a blind?

Ric Grupe

All the Snow Bunting shots are very pleasing. The background really fits with the bird's color.

Harv

riddim_maker wrote:

These are just awesome captures Harv
From my experience, it seemed very difficult to sneak up on the Mergansers. Did you use a blind?

Thanks, Russ. Much appreciated. Normally you would be right as mergansers tend to be spooked easily. This little guy was an exception. I think he grew up with mallards and was quite comfortable with us. I was on the riverbank quite close to him. I almost felt I should get him to sign a model release. He was very accommodating.

Harv

Ric Grupe wrote:

All the Snow Bunting shots are very pleasing. The background really fits with the bird's color.

Thanks very much, Ric. I just took what nature gave me and was happy to get it. Today they were gone.

raptorcaptor

Beautiful shots Harv! Maybe I'll take you up on your offer and see kite your way!

Harv

raptorcaptor wrote:

Beautiful shots Harv! Maybe I'll take you up on your offer and see kite your way!

Thanks a lot, Glenn. Why don't you just come up for a visit and bring a kite with you.

jwear

very well done boy I wish we had a few owls around but just never see them

Harv

jwear wrote:

very well done boy I wish we had a few owls around but just never see them

Thanks a lot, Jeff. We don't have many owls in this immediate area either. This was just a lucky find. No sign of it the next day. Never got a closer shot either.