Owl on a Stick/ NHO walkaround

[Gary Fairhead]

These shots were taken under winter blah skies 5 days ago ( Dec 28.) Did what I could under dark skies and I am now considering flash and beamer for next winter when the days are like this.

The subject is the Northern Hawk Owl who is visiting our area this winter, About the size of a small crow, they are daylight hunters and will feed on mice mostly but also small birds this time of year. This one was sitting on top of a small tree ( the stick) right over the road ( I drove under him before I realised what he was). This gave him a view of two fields and he was busy checking both sides for opportunities. The wind was extremely cold but he appeared comfortable on his perch. Taken with the Canon 200mm F2.8L and Canon 1.4X tc.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a300/g2a/Holding%20Pattern/framed.jpg


http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a300/g2a/Holding%20Pattern/Framed5.jpg


Fluff ball from the rear
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a300/g2a/Holding%20Pattern/fixed.jpg

Who needs eyes in the back of their head?
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a300/g2a/Holding%20Pattern/une2.jpg

[staciecd]

those are some great shots. I am surprised that he stayed that still while you were under him.

[Alan B]

Really great shots :cool:

Love no1 :D

[Paul A]

More excellent shots Gary.

[PADARREN]

great shots love #1 the best

[windoze]

entertaining and just wonderful!!!!
perfect!!!

troy

[Blue Deuce]

Ahhhhhhhhh, I cant think of anything to say that do these justice.

[mikeivan]

Great shots of a fantastic bird, I like #1 and #4 best. A bird expert told me that owls have twice as many bones in their neck as humans and can rotate their head through 270 degrees. Because their eyeballs are not round (they are much larger inside their head) they cannot move them up, down or side to side.

[dancinec]

Excellent shots Gary, You can tell it is cold by the way the owl has fluffed up it feathers and to fly would cause it to get cold again. Well done.

[Poggi]

Gary, Great shots! You guys in Ottawa are coming up with some beautys!

[ngannet]

Wow, what great shots! What a beauty, especially the first pic. Amazing that it's perched on that little stick too.

[cfcRebel]

LOL! Those are definitely the most interesting angles of the bird:D. I'm surprised (s)he stayed there long enough for you to try different thing. I'm envious.
What a nice series, Gary.

[Mitcon]

Great shots Gary, love the first shot. I'd be careful of those angles though from directly underneath and maybe put a filter on lmao.

[Blackburnian]

Very Nice Garry!

Been looking for this fellow with no luck these past few days.....Still have till March;)

1st one is a printer and under shots are pretty funny!

[racketman]

great shots, not keen on the frame for #2, bit distracting.

[Dimitri_V]

WOW , what a superb series of shots.
You`ve done it again Gary,well done mate,Bravo.:D

[reewik]

Nice pics Gary...

[Bald Eagle]

Fantastic Captures, Very sharp series. Well done on these.:D :D

[wolverinesr1]

really great series.the title sums it up perfectly.i too am suprised it would let you get directly under it.

[Gary Fairhead]

Thanks Stacie ( these birds are very wild and don't know better so they are easier to get closer to...same thing last winter with Great Grey Owls, many of whome were killed or injured by passing cars:cry: ). And I think Dennis ( Dancinec)makes a good point in that its so cold that to move for any reason other than to capture food would cause the Owl to lose heat/energy. Most of the time, he just ignored my presence. When I left he was still in the tree.

Thanks to Alan, Paul, Padarren, Troy and Blue for looking and commenting.

[Gary Fairhead]

mikeivan Great shots of a fantastic bird, I like #1 and #4 best. A bird expert told me that owls have twice as many bones in their neck as humans and can rotate their head through 270 degrees. Because their eyeballs are not round (they are much larger inside their head) they cannot move them up, down or side to side.
Thanks for looking and commenting and especially for the information on what allows these wonderful birds to contorte their head/neck the way they do. Quite an adaption. :)

[Gary Fairhead]

Thanks Dennis and Poggi.
ngannet Wow, what great shots! What a beauty, especially the first pic. Amazing that it's perched on that little stick too.
Yeah, it looks rather uncomfortable. I have seen the branch since and there is a small bend/branch at 90 degrees at the top so he did have a tiny horizontal perch. Thanks N.
cfcRebel LOL! Those are definitely the most interesting angles of the bird. I'm surprised (s)he stayed there long enough for you to try different thing. I'm envious.
What a nice series, Gary.
See my answer to Stacie on why I think he let me do a walk around without taking off. Thanks for looking and commenting Rebel.
Mitcon Great shots Gary, love the first shot. I'd be careful of those angles though from directly underneath and maybe put a filter on lmao.
Way ahead of you...the Hoya BD filter ( you didn't know they made a bird dropping filter did you?) is firmly attached and the wind was in my favour:lol: Thanks Mitcon:)
Blackburnian Very Nice Garry!

Been looking for this fellow with no luck these past few days.....Still have till March

1st one is a printer and under shots are pretty funny!
I have to think that he is moving quite a bit within the area Marc. I know they some times take small birds but with rodents being the staple i am wondering how the crust of ice all over the snow from the freezing rain last week may have affected its hunting. The snowys have some weight and power to break the layer if needed but I an not sure how the Northern handles this type of environment. Thanks for the comments Marc and yeah some of the poses are pretty funny:D

[busbyea]

Excellent series Gary;
You've presented them beautifuly too.

[Gary Fairhead]

And finally ;)

Thank you racketman, Dimitri, reewickand Bald Eagle.

wolverinesr1 really great series.the title sums it up perfectly.i too am suprised it would let you get directly under it.
Jeff, I tried answering your surprise shared by others in my first answer to Stacie. See that answer for my thoughts on why he didn't scare off...first time I saw him at beginning of December he was not skitish then either. Thanks for looking and commenting.

busbyea Excellent series Gary;
You've presented them beautifuly too.
Thanks Ted......much appreciated.

[Stephen Stephen]

Very nice Gary. I've just picked up a Sigma DG Super 500 flash in New York on the weekend I'm ready for fill flash. Unfortunately B&H do not stock the "Beamer" so I'll have to look elsewhere.

[Gary Fairhead]

I will be doing the same in the near future. Thanks for looking and commenting Stephen.

[sparker1]

Outstanding series, Gary. I really admire your work, and that of your friends in Ottawa.

[Gary Fairhead]

Thanks so much Stan. The guys are pretty focused;)Yes that pun was intended. There is quite a bit of knowledge in the group but if it wasn't for birds, photography and this forum its likely we would never have crossed paths. Other than Ted ( Busbeya) I met the other guys at Petrie island looking for the same opportunities.All in less than a year.

On the subject of Owls though.......I would love to get some shots of Burrowing Owls like you presented a few days ago. If i ever go to Florida I will e-mail you for directions to that litttle oasis ( but that could be years down the road,,,hope their habitat is protected)

Thanks again for looking and commenting.